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Justify a 4/5 Favorite to Win Belmont, Complete Triple Crown


Triple Crown hopeful Justify is bathed by Carlos Martin after a workout at Belmont Park, June 8, 2018, in Elmont, N.Y.
Triple Crown hopeful Justify is bathed by Carlos Martin after a workout at Belmont Park, June 8, 2018, in Elmont, N.Y.

Unbeaten Justify was a 4/5 odds-on favorite Friday to win the Belmont Stakes in New York, but far from a shoo-in to complete American horse racing's Triple Crown on Saturday.

Bob Baffert-trained Justify arrived in town Wednesday ahead of his attempt to become the 13th horse to complete the Triple Crown, and the second in four years, after American Pharoah in 2015.

Showers are possible for the 1½-mile (2400-meter) race on the Belmont Park dirt in Elmont, New York.

Triple Crown hopeful Justify is led to the track for a workout at Belmont Park, June 8, 2018, in Elmont, N.Y. Justify will attempt to become the 13th Triple Crown winner when he races in the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race June 9.
Triple Crown hopeful Justify is led to the track for a workout at Belmont Park, June 8, 2018, in Elmont, N.Y. Justify will attempt to become the 13th Triple Crown winner when he races in the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race June 9.

The Belmont Stakes, to be held for the 150th time, is the longest of the triple crown races.

Justify won the Kentucky Derby by 2½ lengths and triumphed narrowly at the Preakness Stakes, both run in sloppy conditions.

"I think he's got to run better than he did in the Preakness, but we know going in he's got the most talent," NBC horse racing analyst Randy Moss said Friday.

Justify had never raced until February.

Should he win, he will be only the second undefeated horse to complete the Triple Crown, joining Seattle Slew (1977).

Ridden by two-time Belmont Stakes winner Mike Smith, Justify has drawn the inside barrier.

After wearing mainly white silks in the previous two Triple Crown races, Smith on Saturday will don the colors — red with yellow stars — of the China Horse Club, part owner of the 3-year-old colt.

Hofburg, a 9/2 shot ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., is rated as the most likely to beat Justify. He has not run since a seventh-place finish at the Kentucky Derby five weeks ago.

Trainer Bob Baffert watches Triple Crown hopeful Justify work out at Belmont Park, June 8, 2018, in Elmont, N.Y.
Trainer Bob Baffert watches Triple Crown hopeful Justify work out at Belmont Park, June 8, 2018, in Elmont, N.Y.

Bravazo and Vino Rosso, both 8/1, are also considered legitimate threats.

Luis Saez-ridden Bravazo nearly ran down a fading Justify in the final yards of the Preakness before finishing second, a half-length behind.

Vino Rosso, ridden by John Velazquez, had a bad start at the Kentucky Derby but battled on to finish ninth after starting from a wide barrier.

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    Reuters

    Reuters is a news agency founded in 1851 and owned by the Thomson Reuters Corporation based in Toronto, Canada. One of the world's largest wire services, it provides financial news as well as international coverage in over 16 languages to more than 1000 newspapers and 750 broadcasters around the globe.

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