In a recent interview, after watching Justify breeze for the Preakness, Bob Baffert alludes to fact that his success in training top thoroughbreds is because of his experience in the Quarter back horses’ racing world. And in ‘that’ world horses needed to be fit to race week after week. “We have dealt with turn around all our lives,” said Baffert. “That’s why (Justify) recovered really fast.”
However he does concede a little later that Justify has unmatched raw talent. “He is a pretty remarkable horse especially beating the feald that he didgoing as fast as he did early,” Baffert concluded.
Although Justify is unbeaten and a bit of an unknown (as he is an unraced 2Yo), he has been pushed hard by his trainer in the last 72 days. Yet he shows no signs of being depleted. The beautiful Red, breezed well giving no sign of discomfort in his legs. The bruised hind left heel issue discovered after the Derby has been resolved and he now has a full shoe on his foot along with some Equilox for support.
The track is expected to be sloppy yet again. Rain has been forecasted throughout the week including possibly on Peakness Stakes’ day. Good Magic weathered the proverbial storm well. He rose to the occasion on Derby day to give Justify a run for his money.
The son of curling is trained by Chad Brown, whose protégé Cloud Computing won last year’s edition of this middle jewel in the Triple Crown series. It is to be remembered that his sire Curlin win the Breeders’ Cup Classic (2007)despite a sloppy sealed track. And he won the Preakness in the same year.
There is nothing to stop his well-bred son from following in his footsteps.
“He is doing exceptionally well,” said Brown. “He just looks great. I’m excited about it.”
Bolt d’Oro will not run in the Preakness. Trainer & co-owner Mike Ruis had indicated earlier that given Bolt’s dislike for a sloppy track (as we saw first-hand in the Derby), he would not run the Medagliad’Oro colt in the Preakness Stakes if the track was expected to be wet. Well, the Ruis’ premonition has come to pass. We will not be seeing the San Felipe Stakes’ winner at Pimlico.
Bravazo ran sixth in the Kentucky Derby (2018). The Awesome Again colt is trained by Wayne Lucas (another erstwhile quarter horse race trainer) who (according to Baffert, just like himself) is an expert in training his horses to recover quickly after a hard race. However, that does not mean Bravazo has the talent to beat the 144th Kentucky Derby winner.
The other runner in the race by the same trainer is Sporting Chance. The son of Tiznow refused to breeze at Churchill and has yet to win a group race after his Gr.1 Hopeful Stakes win. Doesn’t look all that hopeful to me!
The other interesting contender for the race is Distorted Humor sired Quip. He has won three of his five starts and was runner up to Magnum Moon in the Gr.1 Arkansas Derby earlier this year. Quip has been training for a long time to run in this race and he shares his pedigree with the Hall of Famer Arrogate. (Distorted Humor is the Quip’s sire and Arrogate’s dam sire). Even more interesting is the fact that Justify’s former trainer (RodolpheBrisset)will obviously try to beat the Kentucky Derby winner with Quip.
Brisset knows the Scat Daddy colt inside out. It is that inside knowledge which could derail Baffert’striple crown ambitions.
We shall just have to wait and see.
1) Justify
2) Quip
3) Good Magic.
1.Justify
2.Good Magic
3.Quip
4.Bravazo
5.Sporting Chance
6.Tenfold
7.Diamond King
8.Lone Sailor
Click HereTo Watch Justify Win The Kentucky Derby Again
Click Here To Watch a Trackus Analysis
Click Here To Watch Preakness Training
Location Pimlico Race Course,Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Inaugurated 1873,Race type Thoroughbred,Distance 1 3⁄16 miles (9.5 furlongs),Record 1:53.00, Secretariat (1973)
Track Left-handed,Qualification 3-year-old,Weight Colt/Gelding: 126 pounds (57 kg),Filly: 121 pounds (55 kg)
Purse US$1,500,000
Credit: Pallavi Shevade-pallavi.shevade@secretaristworld.com