Triple Crown winner Justify named Horse of the Year 2018
This championship followed months of debate, which reached a crescendo on Breeders' Cup weekend when Accelerate capped his campaign with a score in the Classic following a sweep of California's Grade 1 races for older horses.
In this case, a more compact, but unprecedented series of victories prevailed in a vote by the NTRA, Daily Racing Form and National Turf Writers and Broadcasters. Justify received 191 of a possible 249 first-place votes to secure his title, with Accelerate earning 54.
A Bob Baffert-trained son of the late Scat Daddy, Justify won all six of his starts in an exceedingly tight window. He debuted on Feb. 18, succeeded as the first horse since 1882 to win the Kentucky Derby without running at age 2, and became American racing's 13th Triple Crown winner on June 9.
“I’m so proud of Justify, and I’m happy to see he is being rewarded for his unbelievable accomplishments in his run up to the Triple Crown,” Baffert said. “I’ve had the great fortune to be around some of the most talented horses, and what Justify was able to do in such a short amount of time still takes my breath away. He is truly a horse for the ages and deserves his place among racing’s elite."
That Justify wasn't seen on track after the Belmont Stakes sparked debate whether Accelerate's lengthier race schedule -- and victories over older horses -- made him the more deserving horse in this race. Rounding out a strong trio of finalists, the filly Monomoy Girl would have had a stronger case in just about any other year.
Each were notably winners of their respective divisions at the Eclipse Awards.
Justify was campaigned by WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, Starlight Racing and Head of Plains Partners. John D. Gunther, also an Eclipse Award winner Thursday, bred the colt out of the dam Stage Magic.