Justify 'breathing fire' in Belmont 2018 training, handler says

Undefeated Kentucky Derby (Grade I) and Preakness Stakes (GI) winner Justify galloped about 1 1/8 miles Friday morning at Churchill Downs as he prepares for a sweep of the Triple Crown in the 2018 Belmont Stakes.

“He’s just breathing fire out there,” trainer Bob Baffert’s assistant, Jimmy Barnes, said. “You can tell he’s feeling full of himself. He’s happy with what he’s doing and that’s most important. He is getting fitter and fitter each day. He has a solid foundation under him now and I think he’s ready to take the big step forward.”

Barnes also took Justify, with exercise rider Humberto Gomez in the saddle, to the starting gate to stand.

"We chose today to be our gate day just because the track was a little on the firmer side," Barnes said of the track being packed down, or sealed, to keep the overnight rain from penetrating into the surface. "We didn't want to do too much with track conditions. With him working this coming week, we weren't really going to have a chance to get back up to the gate."

Among the crowd of spectators watching Justify was Elliott Walden, president and CEO of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner's co-owner WinStar Farm.

"He's really doing well," Walden said. "Couldn't be happier with the way he's doing. We've got eight days to go. Like Bob said when he worked the other day, it was almost like, 'Man, I wish it were this weekend and not next.' We're in a waiting game, just hoping every day goes as well as today."

Justify is scheduled to gallop Saturday and Sunday during the exclusive training period for Belmont Stakes contenders at 7:30 a.m. (all times Eastern) and breeze Monday, according to Barnes.

While Justify cooled off from his Friday training, stablemate Restoring Hope, the third-place finisher in the Wood Memorial (GII), galloped 1 ½ miles in preparation for the Belmont Stakes.

"He's fresh, happy, very good energy," Barnes said of Restoring Hope, who was 12th in the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile after taking third in Aqueduct's Grade 2 Wood Memorial.

As far as other Belmont contenders stabled at Churchill Downs, Breeders Futurity (GI) winner Free Drop Billy galloped 1 ½ miles for trainer Dale Romans while trainer Steve Asmussen’s Preakness third-place finisher Tenfold galloped nearly two miles and is scheduled to breeze Saturday.

Preakness runner-up Bravazo walked trainer D. Wayne Lukas’ shedrow following his one-mile breeze in 1:42.60 Thursday.