Get to know Kentucky Derby 2018 winner Justify’s connections

After Saturday’s 2018 Kentucky Derby, trainer Bob Baffert said conditioning Justify is “like having LeBron James on your team. You better win a championship with him.”

This colt has quite a group backing him, too.

Consider this bunch:

• Baffert is now ranked behind only “Plain Ben” Jones on the all-time Derby list for wins. Jones saddled six winners. This was Baffert’s fifth, with the others Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998), War Emblem (2002) and American Pharoah (2015). Baffert was inducted into the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame in 2009.

• Another Hall of Famer, jockey Mike Smith, is ranked second behind only Bill Shoemaker with 24 total Derby mounts. Shoemaker rode in the race 26 times. Now, Smith is also one of 26 jockeys with multiple Derby victories. Smith rode longshot Giacomo in 2005. This time, of course, he was on the favorite.

• Justify is campaigned in partnership by China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing, Starlight Racing WinStar Farm, the breeding and racing operation headed up by billionaire Kenny Troutt. WinStar has struck in one other Derby, campaigning Super Saver in 2010. It was a first victory for the other partners.

• Even as Coolmore’s racing entry, Mendelssohn, endured a rough start and finished at the back in the Derby, Justify earned them a legacy win. The colt was one of four in the field sired by the late Scat Daddy, who died suddenly in 2015. Scat Daddy’s final crop of horses is heading to the track now as 2-year-olds.