5 reasons to watch the Belmont Stakes
By Zoe West
4. Bravazo
Bravazo was very very close to spoiling Justify’s chances in the Preakness. He finished second, but was coming on very strong at the end. He passed Justify a step or two after the wire, even though they were both being pulled up. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that if the race were a bit longer Bravazo might have won.
Bravazo also ran in the Derby, finishing sixth, which isn’t bad, but isn’t great. Before that he had compiled a record of three wins, a second and a third in eight starts, which made him one of the most experienced horses in the Derby field. In some ways, he is the counter to Justify. Justify ran only three times before the Derby, and never in 2017. Bravazo made his debut in August of last year, and had run eight times prior to the start at Churchill Downs. He also is bred to go the distance of the Belmont, which you cannot say about all the other horses in the field. His sire, Awesome Again, won multiple 1 1/4 mile races, and was pretty sound throughout his career.