Watch Justify win foggy Preakness Stakes 2018 (Video)

Racing in fog at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Justify finished ahead of seven other horses. See how the Derby winner kept the Triple Crown dream alive.

Legendary trainer Bob Baffert brought his fifth Kentucky Derby winner to Pimlico. In his previous four attempts to pull off the Derby/Preakness double and stay alive for the Triple Crown, Baffert horses won all four times. As a result, this year’s Kentucky Derby winner Justify came to Baltimore as the odds-on favorite to win the 143rd Preakness Stakes.

After five straight days of rain, the Pimlico staff performed a herculean task keeping the track in shape for the Preakness. The conditions were less than optimal, with alternating bouts of rain and fog settling in and out of the area. But the race went on, eventually, after conditions delayed the post time by 20 minutes.

Seven other horses showed up at the wet track hoping to thwart another victory by Justify. Three fell to the Kentucky Derby winner a fortnight earlier at Churchill Downs. Four others sat out the first leg of the Triple Crown and directed their attention to the Preakness Stakes.

Regardless of whether they raced against Justify in the Kentucky Derby or sat out that race, it did not make much difference. None of the seven challengers had an answer for Justify on Saturday in Baltimore. Mike Smith piloted the Kentucky Derby winner to victory, giving the jockey his first Preakness Stakes victory since 1993. Justify ended up wearing the Black-eyed Susans in the winner’s circle after pulling away for a narrow victory.

How the race unfolded in Baltimore

Justify got a good start out of the gate at the No. 7 post, pulling ahead in the first curve. Good Magic came through on the inside, running alongside Justify, with Bravazo hanging a length behind the pair. Into the turn, Good Magic held inside position at the three-quarter mile post, but Justify came into the stretch and pulled away cleanly. Mike Smith held Justify in front position as Good Magic faded down the stretch, Bravazo moved up into second, and Tenfold came charging in late for third.

See for yourself how Justify emerged victorious at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

Justify and Mike Smith were challenged throughout by Good Magic. Luis Saez pushed his Kentucky Derby foe all the way around the track at Pimlico. But Baffert is now five-for-five in pulling off the Derby/Belmont double.

What is next for Justify?

Justify now heads to Belmont Park with a chance to become the second horse in four years to walk away with the Triple Crown. After a decades-long drought, Justify is in position to open up a new era of horse racing interest if he can follow in the footsteps of fellow Baffert horse American Pharoah. The Triple Crown is still a mythic achievement at this point despite the recent success in pulling off the feat, and all eyes will be on New York in early June.

Next: Triple Crown 2018: Schedule for Derby, Preakness, Belmont

Will Good Magic even bother to race the Belmont Stakes after just falling short at Pimlico? The Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner could still match up against his nemesis in another duel on the longer track in New York.