5 reasons to watch the Belmont Stakes
By Zoe West
1. Justify
What other answer could there be? We had to wait 37 years — 37 years! — for a Triple Crown winner, and now we might get another one. Justify has met or exceeded all the expectations for him so far, but the Belmont will present a new challenge. It’s at a different track, a larger track. This could help Justify, but it could also throw him off a bit. Also the race is much longer. One and 1/2 miles sounds pretty long, but coming off the Preakness and the Derby with such a short turnaround could make it seem even longer.
So how will Justify handle it? So far he’s done better than anyone could expect, but that’s still a lot to put on a baby.
Also, if No. 3 comes true, this will be the first Triple Crown Race for Justify on a fast (or okay, not-sloppy) track. And that could have an effect on him or the other. Justify has won on a fast track before, but that would change things, both for him and for the other horses in the race.
Next: The official drink of every Triple Crown race, explained
So far in his short career Justify has answered all the questions posed to him, and answered them well. But on June 9, he will have a chance to join the elite in racing history. And who knows, if Justify follows the trend of recent Derby and Preakness winners, this could be one of the last times you’ll be able to see him on the track. Regardless of the outcome, it is likely that he will be retired at the ripe old age of 4 — or really, before he gets there — and live out his days on a breeding farm. Again, money at work. His value will never be higher.