Updated: Justify's first foal 'a special one' born in Kentucky

The former home of America’s first Triple Crown winner also claimed the first foal by Justify, the most-recent horse to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes.

Audley Farm, located in Berryville, Va., on Saturday published photos of a Justify filly out of the Exchange Rate mare Foreign Affair.

Jamie McDiarmid, equine manager at Audley, said the filly was actually bred and foaled at Amaroo Farm in Kentucky, coming into the world around 11 p.m. ET Friday.

"The foal was doing fine this morning and we're just sort holding our breaths a little bit," McDiarmid said, "because she's not quite 24 hours old. We obviously like to see these foals on their feet before we speak of them. She's quite a special one."

In a sign that the champ may end up marking his progeny, the filly has a white blaze extending to her nose. With similar markings, Justify went from a February 2018 debut to a Triple Crown in a matter of 111 days, then retired to stand at stud at Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Kentucky.

If all goes well, the new filly will remain with its dam in Kentucky for about 45 days before relocating to Audley Farm, which once stood the 1919 Triple Crown winner Sir Barton. According to its website, Audley Farm, which is managed by Turner Kobayashi, “has set about building a top class broodmare band whose aim is to provide well bred, natural, sound, long lasting, quality thoroughbreds for the world market.”

Among Audley Farm's more recent success stories is Bodemeister, who was bred there, sold for $260,000 as a yearling and developed into a key player along the 2012 Triple Crown trail. Bodemeister, who sired 2017 Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming, was sold to stand in Turkey this season.

McDiarmid said "we have options, obviously," with the new foal. Given she's a female, the farm could race and eventually breed her, or develop her into a sales prospect.

"She's about a week early, but everything seems to be absolutely fine," he said. "She will look fantastic in two weeks' time."