In some sad news in thoroughbred racing, 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify has been formally retired from racing. He had a filling in his ankle, and it simply wasn't responding quickly to treatment. Trainer Bob Baffert felt he needed at least 60 to 90 days before Justify could run again, and it wasn't guaranteed.
Justify was unbeatened in six starts, by far the most lightly raced of all Triple Crown winners. It is perhaps a misnomer to call him lightly raced, for he never raced at all at age two and ran some six races in a four-month span, which is a lot of starts in that short a time period.
I would have loved for him to have run in the Breeders' Cup Classic against older horses, but this was not to be.
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Campaigned by WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners LLC, and Starlight Racing, Justify dazzled at first asking on Feb. 18, winning his career debut at Santa Anita and proceeded to accomplish many historical feats en route to racing stardom. He broke the “Curse of Apollo” when he won the Kentucky Derby (G1) by 2 1/2 lengths on May 5, becoming the first horse since Apollo in 1882 to win the Derby without starting as a 2-year-old.
“He is an incredible horse and we are very disappointed he can't run again,” said WinStar Farm's Kenny Troutt. “All things happen for a reason, and we are blessed to have raced him to be the 13th Triple Crown winner in history.”
Obviously, it was a business decision. Can't risk the millions in stud fees and progeny.
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