Racing Dudes Three Stars of the Week: Justifiably Crowned

He did it!! Justify turned for home in the 150th Belmont Stakes to the roar of 90,000 of his closest friends and he didn’t let them down, becoming the 13th Triple Crown winner in horse racing history. Justify’s quest for glory stole the show, but there were nine other stakes races on Belmont Stakes Day that gave us thrill after thrill. Let’s check out our Three Stars of the Week and relive all of the amazing moments from an unforgettable weekend.

1. Justify

How long does it take to obtain immortality? For Justify, the answer is 111 days. In a little less than four months, Justify went from an unknown maiden to a Triple Crown winner. In 2015, the new generation of horse racing fans got the monkey off their backs when American Pharoah became the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years. This time, we celebrated something truly special with this latest triumph. Justify defied the odds from Day 1. To even make the Kentucky Derby would have been a solid achievement, but he didn’t just make the race; he ended the Curse of Apollo. Now, he has become a living legend in the game and will live on forever as America’s 13th Triple Crown winner. He will get a little bit of a rest after his amazing run, but his connections are already planning a summer return for this beast.

2. Bee Jersey

Evidently, the Grade 3 Sexton Mile Stakes at Lone Star Park is now the key prep for the Grade 1 Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap, aka the Met Mile. Last year, Mor Spirit won that race before traveling to New York and dominating the Met Mile, and this year, Bee Jersey did the exact same thing. After going towards the lead like expected, Bee Jersey turned for home in front, but Mind Your Biscuits was looming large to the outside. The battle was on from there. Bee Jersey kept going while Mind Your Biscuits slowly cut into the lead with every stride. The two warriors hit the wire together, and a photo by the slimmest of margins determined Bee Jersey to be the winner. A victory like this should springboard this up-and-coming horse to several big races throughout the summer.

3. Monomoy Girl

Let’s get straight to the point: this filly is just awesome. The versatility she has displayed this year is truly brilliant. On Saturday, she made it three straight Grade 1 wins after taking the Acorn Stakes. This time, she let the early speed go crazy on the front end while stalking the leaders in third. Turning for home, she simply swung out to the clear and mowed them down with ease for a runaway win. The victory means that she is nearly a lock for 3-Year-Old Filly of the Year, but she is not done yet. The Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga is the likely next target where she will try to make it four Grade 1 victories in a row.