Restoring Hope may be Belmont 2018 'rabbit' Justify needs

Bob Baffert quipped Monday morning, discussing 2018 Belmont Stakes pace scenarios with reporters at Churchill Downs, that “I brought my own rabbit.”

And perhaps that’s part of why the Hall of Fame trainer will start a second horse alongside of Justify as he shoots for a Triple Crown sweep on June 9.

Restoring Hope is expected to breeze Tuesday under the Twin Spires with a work that could cement his entry in the Belmont. Already, Baffert considers the colt probable, as owners Gary and Mary West want to run him.

That may play into Baffert’s strategy to get Justify to the winner’s circle in New York.

“He can be on the lead. He can be off it,” Baffert said of Justify. “I actually like when there’s another horse in there. I think Restoring Hope has speed.”

Justify, a son of Scat Daddy, has raced just five times, all since February. Baffert said that despite his talent, the dual classic winner has learning to do.

“He needs somebody to carry him,” Baffert said, saying that “when he made the lead the other day” in the Preakness Stakes, “he coasted, so he needs something. I’ve seen him do that.”

That’s in contrast to Baffert’s other great, American Pharoah, who broke the 37-year drought for Triple Crown winners in 2015.

“Pharoah really liked to be out there and command and go on,” Baffert said. “This guy — he’s still a little green, and likes competition.”

The addition of Todd Pletcher-trained Noble Indy — who shares owner WinStar Farm with Justify — could be another to engage Justify early, supplying a moderate, but not blistering pace. Now, add Restoring Hope.

The son of Giant’s Causeway broke his maiden Feb. 2 at third asking but didn’t run again until finishing third in the Wood Memorial (G2). It was Baffert’s intention to get him to the Kentucky Derby, but Restoring Hope just missed making the Sunland Derby (G3) field on earnings.

Without the points to make the Derby gate, Restoring Hope ran 12th in a sloppy renewal of Churchill Downs’ Pat Day Mile (G3).

“He got away a little slow,” Baffert said. “He never really picked it up in the mud. He really struggled over an off track. I was really disappointed. I thought he could win.”

At his best, Restoring Hope is “sort of a one-paced speed horse. He has speed. So he’s a horse that just gets out there. He’s steady.”

And, as we learned Monday, he could be key to Justify’s bid at history.