With Flameaway suitably freshened since his classic try, trainer Mark Casse and owner John Oxley fully expect to see a strong effort June 23 when he takes on 11 challengers in the $500,000 Ohio Derby (G3) at Thistledown.
After a three-race losing skid to start his 4-year-old season, Staton Flurry's dark bay runner got his sea legs back under him and notched his biggest win to date in the June 16 $200,000 Wise Dan Stakes (G2).
With his spark reportedly showing back up in the a.m. hours, Live Oak Plantation's homebred World Approval aims to get back to showcasing his top form June 16 when he heads a field of eight entered for the $200,000 Wise Dan Stakes (G2T).
The handicap ranks still have some sorting to do. To that end, the June 16 $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) can bring a leading adversary to the forefront as a field of nine will try their collective hand in the 1 1/8-mile test.
Looking every bit the conqueror he is, Justify showed off his remarkably good flesh outside Belmont Park's Barn 1 June 10, taking one turn after another before the pack of media and onlookers who wanted a fresh glance at the Triple Crown hero.
Justify set the pace and held off Gronkowski late to win the Belmont Stakes (G1) and clinch the Triple Crown.
It wasn't the record-setting exploit he uncorked in this spot last year, but Disco Partner's title defense in the six-furlong Jaipur Invitational Stakes (G2T) at Belmont Park on June 9 nonetheless cemented how wicked he is over his home base.
If the buzz seems a bit lessened from the fever that tracked American Pharoah's Triple Crown quest, it's not because Justify hasn't done his part to provide a compelling storyline.
If the unexpected transpires and the first loss of Justify's career happens to come Saturday, Gronkowski would be a shocker to play the role of conqueror, but a popular one nonetheless.
In his first venture over the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Park track, where he will attempt to become the 13th horse to capture the Triple Crown this weekend, dual classic winner Justify looked every bit at home as he has elsewhere.
With three wins, five runner-up finishes, and a trio of third-place efforts in the Belmont Stakes (G1), Todd Pletcher has been at his best during the final bend of the Triple Crown.
Justify's attempt to become the 13th horse to sweep the American classics will commence June 9 out of the inside post position, with the son of Scat Daddy deemed the 4-5 morning-line favorite over nine challengers.
Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Monomoy Girl headlines an exceptional field of seven for the Acorn Stakes (G1).
For all the indelible images the Bob Baffert barn has produced, the sight of Jimmy Barnes astride a diligent pony keeping tabs on the shedrow's litany of runners has become as much a signature part of the operation as his boss's ivory-colored hair.
After dropping jaws with his sizzling four-furlong work in :46 4/5 at Churchill Downs May 29, Justify put in a steadier effort June 4, but one that still featured his trademark ease.
The site of Tapwrit's peak career moment is, appropriately enough, going to be the venue when he launches his long-awaited 4-year-old campaign as he is slated to end a 10-month hiatus June 3 in a 1 1/16-mile allowance race at Belmont Park.
The next opportunity for William Lawrence's Analyze It to bolster the already high regards his connections have for him comes June 2 when he faces seven challengers in the $200,000 Pennine Ridge Stakes (G3T) at Belmont Park.
Add the connections of grade 1 winner Free Drop Billy to the list of those hoping to pull off a shocker at Belmont Park June 9.
While the stopwatch told an impressive tale May 29, it was how dual classic winner Justify had just whipped through the motions that was the real eye-opener during his half-mile breeze in :46 4/5 at Churchill Downs.
With unbeaten Justify maintaining his flesh and energy during his routine gallop at Churchill Downs, Bob Baffert indicated he could breeze the son of Scat Daddy May 29 in preparation for the June 9 Belmont Stakes (G1).
The Jersey Shore is known for bringing out the wild side in some. For Money Multiplier, a venture to the area has once against brought out his winning side.
Rusty Arnold contemplated shipping Miss Kentucky out of town for her next stakes try. Instead, the venerable trainer opted to keep the hometown girl in her own backyard—and she responded by delivering her most impressive outing yet.
Belvoir Bay has proven most adept over the downhill course at Santa Anita Park, and she will return to the venue May 28 against nine other rivals in the $200,000 Monrovia Stakes (G2T) going about 6 1/2 furlongs.
Grade 1 winner Audible, third in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), will not contest the June 9 Belmont Stakes, his connections confirmed May 25.
The next challenge for City of Light is handling the classic distance of 10 furlongs when he heads a field of seven entered for the $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes (G1) on May 26.
After a change of scenery, a change of barns, and some thorough blood work, Divisidero will aim to use his old ways to launch his new, best self for 2018 when he makes his seasonal bow in the $200,000 Monmouth Stakes (G2T) May 26.
Those who watched dual classic winner Justify head to the track May 24 for his first bit of training since his victory in the May 19 Preakness Stakes (G1) were impressed at the unbeaten chestnut colt's ability to keep such rigors at bay.
Mitole earned his fourth career victory in what has become his trademark blowout fashion, when he headed every point of call of his 6 1/4-length cakewalk in the $200,000 Chick Lang Stakes May 19 at Pimlico Race Course.
Souper Striking turned the six-horse $100,000 Hilltop Stakes into a one-woman show during her frontrunning 6 1/4-length victory over the soft Pimlico Race Course turf Friday.
Imprimis remained unbeaten in four starts when he raced just off a tepid pace set by Rocket Heat and took over at the head of the lane on his way to capturing the five-furlong test over boggy going at Pimlico Race Course.
For all the greats that have laid claim to the Woodlawn Vase in the 143-year-old history of the Preakness Stakes (G1), no trainers in the modern era have worked the 1 3/16-mile race the way Hall of Famers Bob Baffert and D. Wayne Lukas have.
Barely a decade into his career, jockey Florent Geroux is running low on significant obstacles still to conquer—save for three big stumbling blocks designed to make the best of the best question if they've met their match.
Dodging the worst of the weather, Justify had as ideal a morning as possible in his first trip over the Pimlico Race Course surface since arriving for his expected run in the middle leg of the Triple Crown.
China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing, and WinStar Farm's Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) winner Justify drew post 7 at the Preakness Stakes (G1) draw May 16 at Pimlico Race Course.
If Untrapped can channel his best form May 18, a second graded stakes victory could be his for the taking when he faces eight others in the $300,000 Pimlico Special Stakes (G3) at Pimlico Race Course.
With trainer Bob Baffert in attendance and a gaggle of media looking on, Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) winner Justify continued his preparations for the May 19 Preakness Stakes (G1) with an energetic 1 1/2-mile gallop May 14.
Tenfold put in the standard week-of exercise the Steve Asmussen barn is known for, covering an easy half-mile in :49 2/5 at Churchill Downs May 14 in preparation for his expected start in the Preakness Stakes (G1) May 19 at Pimlico Race Course.
After walking the shedrow for four days while being treated for a bruise to his left heel, Justify went back to training and galloped about a mile and a half over the Churchill Downs surface in preparation for the Preakness Stakes (G1).
Grade 1 winner Sadler's Joy and several familiar rivals will be trying to one up each other once more in the $700,000 Man o' War Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park May 12.
Like many in the racing community, trainer Tom Amoss is as interested as anyone to see how unbeaten Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) winner Justify looks once he returns to the track.
Stakes winner Gronkowski is set to be transferred from Newmarket-based trainer Jeremy Noseda to the barn of two-time Eclipse Award winning-conditioner Chad Brown, Tom Ludt of owner Phoenix Thoroughbreds confirmed May 8.
With Justify showing positive signs the morning after turning back champion Good Magic in the Kentucky Derby (G1), the conversation shifted to whether any rival could stymie the chestnut colt in the May 19 Preakness Stakes (G1).
China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing, and WinStar Farm's Justify in every sense earned his score in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) May 5 at Churchill Downs.
A wide post, brutal stretch duel, and post-race objection could not change the result. Monomoy Girl scored the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) May 4 at Churchill Downs.
That a reigning divisional champion, a fellow Breeders' Cup victor, a quartet from Todd Pletcher, and a multiple grade 1 winner have all taken turns in the shadows says volumes about the quality of this year's Kentucky Derby.
Like any astute businessman, Mike Repole has surveyed the landscape in recent times to see how he can take his already successful venture to another level.
If grade 1 winner Justify indeed possesses the reserve of talent his Hall of Fame pilot believes he has, it may just help bring an end to one of the few realms of relative misfortune in Mike Smith's orbit.
Finley'sluckycharm aims to keep her Louisville streak going when she faces six others in the $300,000 Humana Distaff Stakes (G1) May 5, part of the undercard of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).
There would be no more fitting race for a Churchill Downs Racing Club-owned horse to win than the Churchill Downs Stakes presented by Twinspires.com (G2). On May 5, Warrior's Club will try and do just that.
Like everything else in the brief career of grade 1 winner Justify, his first morning at the site of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) was handled with beyond-his-experience poise.
