The Justify we saw in the Preakness was not as sharp as the Justify we saw in the Derby. The taxing effort of the Derby probably took a lot out of him and the two week turnaround was not as much time as would have been optimal. I think that he ran a superb race yesterday, possible getting the final furlong on guts alone.
That's one of the many reasons that the Triple Crown series is just plain hard. A horse has to be made of iron to keep coming back and doing the same thing three times in a five week stretch. Only the truly exceptional need apply.
I'm hoping that Justify is such a horse and will be rooting that he is able to recoup his Derby form in three weeks. The horse that won the Derby should have no trouble beating any other three year old we have seen this year at the mile and one-half distance. The one who ran in the Preakness is in danger of getting caught down the long Belmont stretch. Other trainers will have seen this possible chink in the armor and may be making plans to be in Elmont on June 9. Should make for a heck of a race.
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