Justify
Horse of the Year Justify (Scat Daddy) headlines a class of nine nominees elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame on Tuesday. He was elected in his first year of eligibility, as were the other stars of this year’s class, fellow Horse of the Year Gun Runner and leading jockey Joel Rosario. The ceremony will be held Aug. 2 at the Fasig-Tipton Sales Pavillion in Saratoga Springs, NY.
With a sensational campaign that took place over six starts and just 111 days in 2018, Justify made an impact on the sport like no other horse before him, stamping his place in the history books. Tabbed a ‘TDN Rising Star’ after a belated, but ultra-impressive debut at Santa Anita in February of his 3-year-old season, he cleared his first-level allowance condition with ease a month later.
The $500,000 KEESEP buy crossed the line first in the GI Santa Anita Derby that April, securing his spot in the starting gate for the GI Kentucky Derby. Installed as the overwhelming favorite on the First Saturday in May, the hulking chestnut started his ascent into greatness with a 2 ½-length defeat of champion 2-year-old Good Magic beneath the Twin Spires. He broke the Curse of Apollo that day, becoming the first horse to win the Run for the Roses without racing as a juvenile since Apollo accomplished the feat in 1882.
Well backed once again in Baltimore just two weeks later, Justify emerged from the fog a winner in a thrilling renewal of the GI Preakness S. Carrying CHC’s iconic red and gold silks, he stamped his place in the history books just three weeks later with a front-running score in the GI Belmont S., making him the 13th Triple Crown winner in history.
“When we began the China Horse Club, we aspired to help the Chinese go racing around the world and with Justify we truly did that,” said Teo ah Khing, Chairman of the CHC. “He took our members and our story on an unforgettable journey. A Triple Crown represents the possibilities that CHC offers. Justify represents our company, our people and he ability to do great things.”
Justify has continued to excel in his new career as a stallion at Coolmore’s historic Ashford Stud in Kentucky. He led all second-crop sires last year with 15 black-type winners, six of which were Grade I winners, topped by Breeders’ Cup heroines Just FYI and Hard to Justify. He continues to dominate the international stallion ranks in 2024 and even has two Derby contenders in Just a Touch and Just Steel.
