The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will welcome New York Giants Head Coach Pat Shurmur to Belmont Park on Saturday, June 9 to deliver the traditional call of "Riders Up" prior to the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes.
If Blended Citizen were to upset Justify's Triple Crown bid in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1), or even finish on the board, it would reward those who took a shot when they purchased him as a slow-developing 2-year-old.
Claire Crosby provides updates on Belmont Stakes (G1) contenders Bravazo, Vino Rosso, Noble Indy, Blended Citizen, Gronkowski, and Tenfold who made morning appearances to the track in preparation for the final leg of the Triple Crown.
As part of the sponsorship, Wheels Up will be the only brand to appear on Justify and his jockey, Mike Smith, covering the horse's blanket and Smith's pant legs, turtleneck, and boots, during his run at the Belmont Stakes (G1) Saturday.
Should Justify complete the Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes (G1) June 9 at Belmont Park, his connections will be the first to be presented with a new Triple Crown trophy.
Justify will not be the only horse aiming for history in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) June 9 at Belmont Park as a victory by Hofburg would add another page to the 1 1/2-mile classic's record books for his sire Tapit.
Not long after Justify drew the rail for the Belmont Stakes (G1), his trainer Bob Baffert threw the first pitch before the June 5 Major League Baseball game between the New York Mets and the Baltimore Orioles.
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.
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.
The Road takes this opportunity to recall the four previous Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) winners to enter the Belmont with an unblemished record.
A guide of television, radio, and online coverage during Belmont Stakes Week, provided by America's Best Racing:
Mark Allen's Double Eagle Ranch sits about five miles outside of Roswell. Here, Mine That Bird spends his days in a roomy paddock partially shaded by a canopy adorned with his own replica twin spires.
Steve Young won first-out with the first horse he claimed 30 years ago, which made it easier for him to increase the stakes in his racing stable, and that has led to Belmont Stakes hopeful Blended Citizen and stakes winner Ms Bad Behavior
Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Justify runs for history, aiming to succeed American Pharoah with a historic Triple Crown win, as NBC Sports presents the 150th Belmont Stakes this Saturday, June 9, at 4 p.m. ET on NBC.
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.
On June 9th, at approximately 6:46 p.m. EDT, the eyes of the sporting world focus on Justify, as the unbeaten 3-year-old attempts to become the 13th Thoroughbred to don the Triple Crown with a victory in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes (G1).
Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott issued an upbeat bulletin June 3 following Hofburg's five-furlong workout in company with Good Samaritan at Saratoga Race Course, his final preparation for the Belmont Stakes (G1).
Undefeated Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Justify readied for his final breeze before the June 9 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) with a 1 1/2-mile gallop June 3 at Churchill Downs.
Phoenix Thoroughbreds' Gronkowski put in his final timed workout for the June 9 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1) when he went five furlongs in 1:01.87 June 2 on Belmont Park's main track.
Tenfold breezed five furlongs in 1:01 3/5 at Churchill Downs on June 2, 2018. Video courtesy of Churchill Downs
Undefeated Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Justify galloped 1 1/2 miles June 2 at Churchill Downs.
The guest list for the Charitable Impact Group's Belmont Stakes handicapping event benefitting Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) and the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) will feature top trainers and jockeys.
Trainer Todd Pletcher was busy June 1 as he shuttled between Belmont Park's main track and training track to fit in a number of scheduled works for next week's Belmont Stakes Racing Festival in between the raindrops.
Jennie Rees talks to Elliott Walden of WinStar about Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Justify, as he prepares for the Belmont Stakes.
Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Justify schooled in the starting gate and galloped about 1 1/8 miles June 1 as he prepares for a sweep of the Triple Crown in the June 9 Belmont Stakes (G1).
Tom Law of ST Publishing and Bob Ehalt of Thoroughbred Racing Commentary earned top honors in NYRA's ninth Joe Hirsch Memorial Writing Contest, recognizing the best in print and internet coverage of the 2017 Belmont Stakes (G1), won by Tapwrit.
Dual classic winner Justify returned to the track at Churchill Downs May 31 for a one-mile jog following his half-mile breeze in :46 4/5 May 29, and Bravazo worked a mile in 1:42 4/5.
BackTrack is in the 11th of 12 weeks looking back at the Belmont Stakes (G1) victories of the Triple Crown winners in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the New York classic.
The Bob Baffert horses were heading onto the track under the supervision of his assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes. ... Barnes' horse was a vision of perfection: a beautiful burnished palomino whose coat gleamed in the sunlight.
Number of foes in Belmont might seal Justify’s fate
Should Justify win the Belmont, WinStar will become the first owner of the 21st century to have three Belmont winners.
Justify works on May 29, 2018 at Churchill Downs. Justify worked furlongs in :46 4/5. Video courtesy of Churchill Downs
The Kentucky Derby Museum is proud to announce The James Graham Brown Foundation has awarded the museum a $1 million grant for its renovation and expansion project, which is currently underway.
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).
With a heavy downpour overnight in Louisville, trainer Bob Baffert's assistant Jimmy Barnes slightly adjusted the plans for undefeated Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Justify May 27.
Phoenix Thoroughbred Limited's Gronkowski put in his first work for trainer Chad Brown May 26, when he went four furlongs in :47.99 over Belmont Park's main track in preparation for the June 9 Belmont Stakes (G1).
Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Justify galloped 1 1/2 miles May 26 at Churchill Downs with exercise rider Humberto Gomez in the saddle as the undefeated colt continued his preparations for the Belmont Stakes (G1).
Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Justify continued his training May 25 at Churchill Downs with a 1 1/2-mile morning gallop under Humberto Gomez.
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.
After an ESPN.com reported Coolmore Stud had obtained Justify's breeding rights, WinStar Farm issued a statement saying that nothing is finalized at this time and won't be in the foreseeable future.
Spend Preakness Stakes day with 34-year-old trainer Rodolphe Brisset, a former assistant to Hall of Famer Bill Mott, as he sends out his first starter in a U.S. Triple Crown race. Get to know Brisset as he prepares Quip.
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.
Thanks to fog blanketing Pimlico Race Course, there is a moment where Justify and Good Magic disappear from sight as they turn for home during NBC Sports' coverage of the Preakness Stakes (G1).
With Justify, it seems it’s not a matter of how many days since he started racing, it’s the number of days to the June 9 Belmont Stakes (G1).
To nobody's surprise, undefeated dual-classic winner Justify remained a unanimous first-place choice in the latest NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Poll released May 21.
With viewers perhaps sensing a special horse in undefeated Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) winner Justify, overnight ratings for NBC's Preakness Stakes (G1) increased 12% compared with last year's broadcast.
Late sire has 100 black-type winners, 25 grade/group 1 winners
Regarding the 1 1/2-mile third leg of the Triple Crown, trainer Bob Baffert rolled out the standard horseman's mantra: If all goes well, Justify will run.
