The sun was not shining brightly on the old Kentucky home on the first Saturday in May. Ominous, black clouds opened up above the Twin Spires and unleashed their fury, spilling well over 2.31 inches of rain onto the track. Yet, the record rainfall wasn't enough to dampen the spirits of those at Churchill Downs, and the show went on as planned. Twenty of the finest thoroughbreds marched to post on a mission, but it would be Justify who would rise above the rest. As the 5/2 favorite, Justify was supposed to win, but when you stop and look at the past of this legendary event, history would have stated otherwise.
For 136 long years, a curse had plagued the track of Churchill Downs. In 1882, a colt by the name of Apollo, crossed the wire first in the Kentucky Derby. Nobody knew it at the time, but the colt would go on to be remembered best not for his Derby triumph, but for a curse. When Apollo won the Kentucky Derby, he became the first horse to wear the roses, having never raced as a two-year-old. It wasn't such a big deal at the time, but as the years passed, it became apparent that no horse was able to duplicate the feat. Even some of the most talented three-year-olds met ignominious defeat at the hands of the "Apollo Curse", such as Forego, Curlin, and Bodemeister, just to name a few. But then came Justify, the lone colt who had what it took to go all the way, and put an end to the curse. It took over a century, but the spirit of Apollo haunts the track no more.
While defeating a 136 year long curse is impressive enough, it wasn't the only thrill that Justify provided on Saturday. The way he won the Kentucky Derby was sensational, serving as sweet justification to the hype that has followed him from the very beginning. When the starting gates opened to the ocean of mud, Justify seized the moment and made his move. Hustling out of his post, the imposing, red beast charged after Promises Fulfilled, the pacesetter, and stalked him in second. The pair blazed through scorching fractions, sending waves of mud and water spraying back viciously on the eighteen horses that trailed behind them. Justify wasn't giving Promises Fulfilled an inch, and poured the pressure on the leader with every stride. As the final bend loomed ahead, Justify could hold back no more, and splashed his way toward the front. With the rapid fractions taking its toll on Promises Fulfilled, Justify easily shut him down and took command. Justify unleashed his power as he rolled into the stretch, and turned away, the gallant challenge of Breeders' Cup Juvenile champion, Good Magic. With the Twin Spires standing proudly above, Justify bounded over the finish line by 2 1/2 lengths, in a final time of 2:04.20.
Justify's triumph was validation of his class and potential, as the unflappable colt proved his ability to handle any obstacle thrown at him. Not only did the young horse take the unforgiving conditions of the weather in stride, but he also survived running through suicidal fractions, defeated a curse, kept one of the greatest Kentucky Derby fields ever assembled at bay, and maintained an unbeaten record. Justify came into the Kentucky Derby with very little experience, having only competed in three previous races, and only one stakes race. But what he lacked in experience, he made up for in talent, and when Justify crossed the wire first and had the coveted roses draped upon his withers, there was no denying the fact that this animal may be something very special.
Before his win in the Kentucky Derby, Justify drew comparisons to champions of the past, such as Easy Goer and Point Given. But with the roses now in his possession, the copper colt is being mentioned in the same breath as 2015 Triple Crown winner, American Pharoah, and Arrogate, the richest thoroughbred in the world. Those are some pretty lofty titles to live up to, but after seeing the way Justify easily defeats every challenge that he comes across, it is not too far-fetched to believe that his winning ways will continue. The blazed son of Scat Daddy has an uncanny way of moving, which allows him to unleash devastating speed and power, yet exert very little energy. Watching this colt run is a sight to behold, as he always delivers his best in breathtaking fashion. The swift mover never seems to run out of steam, and that makes him very dangerous as we continue through the Triple Crown. Justify has done a sensational job of living up to his massive expectations so far, and in two weeks he will attempt to keep his trend going, and add the Black-eyed Susans to his resume.
Thank you to Eric Kalet for the awesome shots of Justify! You can find his work here http://erickalet.zenfolio.com/
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