Bob Baffert And Justify Try To Make Horse Racing History

Watching a horse attempt to win the Triple Crown is one of the most exciting activities for a fan of EZ Horse Betting. Writing before the June 9, 2018 Belmont Stakes, we noted that Justify could become the next Triple Crown champion with a win in the Belmont Stakes. Such a win would also make Bob Baffert the trainer of two Triple Crown champions. He last accomplished the feat with American Pharoah in 2015. If successful in New York, Justify would be the 13^th horse to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. Baffert would join Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons as the only trainer to win the title twice.

It is certain that many bettors will be visiting their online racebook to make a bet on Justify, but can this horse get the job done? Winning the Triple Crown is difficult, and some claim that Justify’s performances so far were not that impressive compared to other champions like Seattle Slew. Here are a few things you might want to know before making your Belmont Stakes bet.

About Justify-American Race Horse

Since the very beginning, Justify has been a special horse. He was foaled on March 28, 2015 in Kentucky. The horse did not begin racing until February of 2018 in his three-year old year. Less than three months later Justify would win the Kentucky Derby and shatter a long-held betting maxim. Since 1882, no horse that did not race at age two has won the Kentucky Derby. Justify broke this jinx.

The breeding of Justify hints at greatness. His sire, Scat Daddy, won the Florida Derby and the Champagne Stakes before making his own classic run. The promise of potential for Justify was so high that the horse was sold for $500,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2016. The horse was purchased by WinStar Farm and China Horse Club. WinStar is no stranger to competing in racing’s big events. The operation has the capital to regularly invest in race horses of a superior caliber.

Justify spent part of his early preparation with Rodolphe Brisset before moving to Bob Baffert’s barn. The training change forms part of the colt’s path to the 2018 classics. It does not, by itself, explain the owners’ private reasoning or establish that the earlier trainer lacked ability. Baffert then prepared him for the racing campaign described here, beginning with his February debut and continuing through the Triple Crown.

About Bob Baffert- American Race Horse Trainer

With his bright mass of platinum hair and movie star aura, Bob Baffert is recognized by both fans and non-fans of racing. Known as a gregarious trainer who loves the spotlight and the media, Baffert has spent a large portion of his training career in California where he regularly associates with celebrities. Indeed, Baffert has assumed the role of celebrity himself thanks to the worldwide attention he received in 2015 by winning the Triple Crown with American Pharoah. He could not have known it then, but Justify was just a few months old when American Pharoah made history at the Belmont Stakes.

Baffert had already won many individual Triple Crown races by the time of this 2018 preview. His stable included prominent stakes horses and major owners, although that does not mean every horse in the barn was stakes quality. Now, Baffert stands on the cusp of doing something that only one trainer has ever done before—winning the Triple Crown twice.

The only other trainer to win the Triple Crown twice was Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons. He did it with Gallant Fox in 1930 and Omaha in 1935, five years apart rather than in consecutive seasons. Both horses were owned by Belair Stud. Lucien Laurin came close in 1972 and 1973 with Riva Ridge and Secretariat, but Fitzsimmons remains the only one to do it. If Baffert were to also win two Triple Crown titles, his legacy in horse racing would be cemented. It could be argued that Bob Baffert is the greatest trainer of the modern era, and maybe all time.

About the Belmont Stakes-American Horse Race

The final and most important leg of the Triple Crown is the Belmont Stakes. In the 2018 edition discussed here, it took place in June at Belmont Park in New York. That race was contested over a grueling 1 ½ miles, the longest distance its competitors have ever faced in their short careers. Nicknamed the “Test of the Champion” because of its difficulty to win, the Belmont Stakes has put a halt to the Triple Crown bids of horses like Smarty Jones and Big Brown.

There are several factors that make the Belmont Stakes difficult to win. First and foremost is fatigue. By the time a horse reaches the Belmont to compete for the Triple Crown, it will have raced two times in two different states within 30 days. The travel, training, and racing takes its toll on many horses. It is not uncommon for a horse to show up at the Belmont Stakes tired.

Another reason the Belmont is daunting is the presence of so-called “new shooters.” In this context, the term refers to fresh competitors arriving for the Belmont after missing one or both earlier classics; their preparation must be checked individually. New shooters are rested and fresh, and many times they have been training for the long distance. A new shooter can become a spoiler, ending another horse’s chance at history. Anger and frustration can often be the result as it was in 2014 when Tonalist defeated California Chrome to ruin Chrome’s Triple Crown quest. Tonalist had not run in the two previous races, prompting the owner of California Chrome to call Tonalist’s connections cowards on live television.

The reality is that the winning the Triple Crown is not supposed to be easy. If it were, a champion would be crowned each year. All of the obstacles that stand in the way of a champion reinforce that horse’s greatness.

Will Justify be able to become the 13^th Triple Crown winner on June 9, 2018? Some believe that he will. Others claim that Justify is not as good as his previous wins might indicate. There are a few things you need to consider when making a bet on the upcoming Belmont Stakes at your online racebook.

Betting the Triple Crown at an Online Racebook

Did you know that many bettors will purposely make a bet on the Triple Crown just so they can save a winning ticket as a souvenir in the event that a horse earns the championship? That souvenir-ticket discussion belongs to 2018; the race is complete and no bet on it is available now. For current meetings, compare our online horse betting sites and check location eligibility, race coverage and applicable terms before deciding whether to open an account.

But, before you decide to make a bet on Justify there are some things you should consider. First of all, the odds on the horse will be very low. It is not uncommon to receive 1-1 or less on horses that are vying for the Triple Crown. This means that you will be risking a lot to win a little. The true contrarians will look for horse that they believe have the power to upset Justify.

The weather is another factor. Justify has won twice now on wet race tracks, but he didn’t seem to particularly like it. If it rains again in New York, the distance of the race and the presence of new shooters may be too much for the horse to overcome.

Finally, the rarity of a Triple Crown does not by itself justify betting against a horse that has already won the first two legs. The relevant question is its chance against this particular Belmont field compared with the available price. A contrarian opinion is not automatically profitable: it still needs to be supported by form, conditions and a realistic probability estimate. Check our Bovada racebook review, Twinspires review or even our Betamerica review. Availability depends on your location and the operator’s current eligibility rules. online racebook comparison to compare current coverage and terms.

With that being said, we’ll be cheering for Justify on Belmont Stakes day. Another Triple Crown champion would be good for horse racing.

The result behind this archived preview

NYRA’s race report records the result. Reading a preview alongside its outcome helps distinguish pre-race uncertainty from hindsight.