Coolmore America and the owners of Justify (USA) (Scat Daddy {USA}) have completed a deal to secure the future stallion career of the unbeaten Triple Crown winner. (Photo credit: RacingFotos)
The deal was announced on Friday (US time), meaning Justify will stand alongside 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah next season, with the fee to be set at a later date.
“After much deliberation with all the partners, we’ve decided to accept Coolmore’s offer to stand Justify,” Elliott Walden, president, CEO and racing manager of WinStar Farm said.
“As you can imagine, this is a bittersweet moment for all of us connected to this special horse who gave us the ultimate thrill of a lifetime. We believe strongly in Justify as a stallion and the ownership group has retained breeding rights. We look forward to supporting him at Ashford Stud.”
Justify
Justify was raced by WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners LLC, and Starlight Racing and trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. Newgate Farm's Henry Field had a hand in selecting the colt from the yearling sales.
He was retired in late July with a perfect six-for-six record and earnings of US$3,798,000.
"As you can imagine, this is a bittersweet moment for all of us connected to this special horse who gave us the ultimate thrill of a lifetime." - Elliott Walden on Justify
Bred in Kentucky by Glennwood Farm, Justify became the first unblemished Triple Crown winner since Seattle Slew in 1977.
“We look forward to standing our second Triple Crown winner at Ashford Stud,” said M.V. Magnier. “Let’s hope he proves as good as his sire Scat Daddy. We are thankful to everyone involved with Justify, and are excited to have him at Coolmore. It is an amazing achievement for Bob Baffert and his team to have developed the career of two Triple Crown winners in just 4 years."
Justify was unraced at two, and only made his debut on Feb 18 this year with a win over seven furlongs at Santa Anita.
"We are thankful to everyone involved with Justify, and are excited to have him at Coolmore." - M.V. Magnier
He then progressed to a second win at the mile at the Arcadia track Mar. 11 and then onto the G1 Santa Anita Derby Apr. 7, where he scored by an emphatic three lengths.
He then became the first horse since 1882 to win the G1 Kentucky Derby without starting as a 2-year-old. Justify set a fast pace that day and kept finding, striding home 2 1/2 lengths clear of the field.
After a hard-fought half-length victory over Bravazo (USA) (Awesome Again (Can}) in the G1 Preakness S. on May 19, Justify closed out his career in style, becoming the 13th Triple Crown winner with a comfortable 1 3/4-length win in the G1 Belmont S on June 9.
Watch: Justify winning the Belmont Stakes to take the Triple Crown
