Justify 'doing really well' with Belmont 2018 training
Dual classic winner Justify galloped 1 1/2 miles Saturday morning at Churchill Downs with Humberto Gomez in the saddle as the undefeated colt continued preparations for the 2018 Belmont Stakes.
“I couldn’t be happier with the way things are going,” Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s assistant, Jimmy Barnes, said. “Once again Bob told me to take it easy with him but he’s doing really well. We backed him up a little further in the stretch to begin his gallop this morning and went a good 1 ½ miles.”
Baffert is expected to return to Churchill Downs on Monday morning to watch Justify train.
Barnes, 58, has worked as Baffert’s assistant for nearly 20 years and oversees the development of the barn’s top horses including Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and champion Arrogate.
“You have to get Bob a lot of credit,” Barnes said. “He’s stocked the pond well every year. You have to have the horse and the horsepower to compete in these classic races. We keep coming up with them and are very lucky. You do have to pinch yourself because you don’t know if you will have it every year.”
Also training Saturday during the exclusive 7:30-7:40 a.m. (all times Eastern) training window for Belmont Stakes horses were Preakness runner-up Bravazo, who galloped 1 ½ miles with exercise rider Danielle Rosier aboard for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, and Preakness third Tenfold, who galloped about 1 ½ miles with Angel Garcia for fellow Hall of Fame conditioner Steve Asmussen.
Other Belmont Stakes possible contenders based at Churchill Downs are Albaugh Family Stables’ Breeders’ Futurity (GI) winner Free Drop Billy and Wood Memorial (G2) third Restoring Hope.
Free Drop Billy is scheduled to breeze Sunday and his Belmont Stakes status could be determined after the work, said trainer Dale Romans. Restoring Hope could breeze while Baffert is at Churchill Downs on Monday or Tuesday, Barnes said.
Only 12 horses have swept the Triple Crown: Sir Barton (1919), Gallant Fox (1930), Omaha (1935), War Admiral (1937),Whirlaway (1941), Count Fleet (1943), Assault (1946), Citation (1948), Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (1977), Affirmed (1978) and American Pharoah (2015).