Baffert: Belmont Stakes 2018 'will be easier' on Justify

Justify, who followed up his May 5 Kentucky Derby victory with a gutsy half-length triumph in Saturday's Preakness Stakes, will have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of American Pharoah and provide trainer Bob Baffert a second Triple Crown sweep in the 2018 Belmont Stakes.

“I don’t see why we wouldn’t go to the Belmont as long as he stays like this," the Hall of Fame trainer said Sunday morning. "He looks good. He looks pretty bright. He ate everything."

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The 3-year-old son of Scat Daddy also showed no ill effects of a minor foot issue that surfaced on the morning after his Kentucky Derby score. Justify improved his record to 5-for-5 in the middle jewel of the Triple Crown after facing a stiff challenge throughout the 1 3/16-mile race that was run over a sloppy, sealed track. 

Derby runner-up Good Magic took his best shot at turning the tables on Justify, taking it to him after an alert break from the starting gate.

"He did something totally different yesterday. He got challenged early. Good Magic was pushing him out the whole way,” Baffert said. “He had a five-eighths run, so that’s probably why he didn’t have a lot of kick at the end. But (jockey Mike Smith) said he could have won by more. When he knew he had it he just coasted to the wire. When he was pulling up and the horses came to him, he takes off again.

"It was close, but for him, what he’s done – fifth race – it’s pretty incredible.”

Justify’s performance under fire Saturday gives Baffert a lot of confidence going into the Belmont Stakes. 

“I think the Belmont will be easier on him, the way it’s set up,” said Baffert, who trains Justify for WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, Starlight Racing and Head of Plains Partners.

Baffert made three failed attempts to pull off a sweep of the Triple Crown with Derby and Preakness winners Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998) and War Emblem (2002) before getting the job done in 2015 with American Pharoah, who ended a 37-year Triple Crown drought that followed Affirmed’s successful bid in the 1978 Belmont. American Pharoah’s success makes the Triple Crown challenge somewhat less daunting.

“I think it’s a little bit different. Before we’d go there thinking it’s going to be so difficult. Something always goes wrong. I just feel with this horse, he’s so talented, something can go wrong and he’d still win,” Baffert said. “He’s a superior horse. Yesterday, they tried something different and he handled it. He’s not one-dimensional.”

Justify already put Baffert in the record books with his victory in the Preakness, which gave his trainer seven wins in the race, placing him in a tie for most Preakness victories with 19th century trainer Robert Wyndham Walden, who saddled seven winners between 1875 and 1888. In addition to his four previous Derby/Preakness winners and Triple Crown hero American Pharoah, Baffert scored Preakness victories with Point Given (2001) and Lookin At Lucky (2010).

Baffert also equaled the record of 14 victories in the Triple Crown series held by Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who came within a half-length of winning his 15th when Bravazo’s late drive fell short.

“I remember when I first got in, I remember Wayne Lukas's record [in the Triple Crown]. He had like 12. ‘Well, no one is ever going to touch that, it's ridiculous.’ I've never given it any thought. It's never been a goal of mine,” Baffert said. “I did have a goal to win the Triple Crown. It felt a little empty.

"When somebody (else) would go for the Triple Crown, I had to see all my losses repeated over and over and over. When American Pharoah won, the first call I got was from (owner) Mike Pegram. He said, 'I'm glad you won, because I don't want to see any more reruns of Real Quiet getting beat.'”

The trainer doesn't think American Pharoah’s Triple Crown breakthrough won’t diminish the build-up surrounding Justify’s bid in three weeks.

“New York is a sports town. They love something like [the Triple Crown]. It would be just as important [as Pharoah]. They're watching the horse, they see this beautiful horse,” he said. “I think this horse has a big audience. Usain Bolt? He was in all those Olympics. But we still watched, to see if he still has it. Can he do it? He's undefeated, he knows where the wire is, he knows himself he's pretty good. I think it would be just as exciting.”

Shortly after 8 a.m. Sunday, Justify began his journey back to Churchill Downs, where he will resume serious training next week. Baffert is undecided when his Derby and Preakness winner will ship to Belmont Park.