Up to 'racing luck' for Kentucky Derby 2018 favorite Justify
Undefeated Santa Anita Derby winner Justify on Friday posted his final official workout in advance of the 2018 Kentucky Derby at Santa Anita Park, breezing seven furlongs in 1:25.20 under Drayden Van Dyke.
Santa Anita clockers recorded splits of :24.60, :36.40, :48.40, 1:00.60 and 1:12.60.
“That’s what you want to see,” said trainer Bob Baffert. “You want to see a horse that’s enjoying what he’s doing. He worked well and got something out of it. I was either going to work him tomorrow or today and I moved it up an extra day because he’s going to leave on Monday.”
“He hit the ground good. He’s like a Cadillac," added Van Dyke.
Justify – owned by China Horse Club International Ltd., Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing & WinStar Farm LLC – broke off at the five-eighths pole, where he started about three lengths behind stablemate Longden, a promising recent maiden winner owned by Godolphin. Van Dyke was content to lay off the work mate until they hit the one-sixteenth marker, five furlongs into the work, and then cruised up on the outside to cross the wire on even terms with Longden. From there, Justify accelerated into the clubhouse turn.
"I've been there with the best horse and got beat," Baffert said. "You know what it's like, but you can never take anything for granted. You go day by date, get there and hope everything goes your way."
Baffert addressed the decision to have Justify’s final work in California instead of over the Churchill Downs surface.
“This track at Santa Anita is a very deep, demanding track and they get really fit here,” Baffert said. “We’ve shipped all over and I don’t think there’s a big difference. We used to go there a few weeks early but last year we went in the week before and won the Kentucky Oaks. I don’t think it makes a difference.”
Van Dyke was aboard Justify for his debut maiden win in February. Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, a Derby winner in 2005 aboard Giacomo, took over in his next start and has the Derby mount.
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) runner-up Solomini – owned by Zayat Stables LLC, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor & Derrick Smith – is expected to work Saturday or Sunday. Although he’s only credited with one win, the Curlin colt crossed the wire first in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G1) before being disqualified and has never missed the board racing against top-shelf company.
“The talent is there but he’s going to have to get some breaks go his way,” Baffert said. “He’s been training well, looks happy, came out of the last race well. He’s a little bit slower than some of the horses in there but they all deserve a chance. Crazy things happen in the Derby.”