Justify had his first trip around the Belmont Park oval and left trainer Bob Baffert more than pleased with what he saw.
The Totally Thoroughbred horse show, originally scheduled for July 7, will now take place at Pimlico October 7, delayed as a result of heavy rains in recent weeks.
Justify has been installed as the 4-5 favorite for Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, where a win will secure a Triple Crown for the undefeated Bob Baffert trainee.
The Arnaud Delacour trainee Special Envoy swept three Va-bred route stakes last year and is training towards a try at a repeat in 2018.
Saturday’s Penn National card features two turf sprints — the Penn Ladies Dash and Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup — also part of the MATCH Series.
On Saturday’s “Off to the Races” radio show we’ll be talking Penn Mile, Delaware Park, Belmont Stakes, and more.
Multiple-graded stakes winner Maraud has been installed as the 5-2 favorite in the G2 Penn Mile, the feature on Penn National’s richest day.
Jockey Feargal Lynch took the Pimlico riding title, while Kieron Magee, Mary Eppler, and Jerry Robb tied for top trainer honors.
A severe thunderstorm forced the Maryland Jockey Club to cancel Pimlico’s Sunday card after four races, leaving a $280,000 carryover in the Pick 6 heading into Monday’s mandatory payout day.
Hard-hitting veteran Page McKenney won the Grade 3 Salvator Mile, part of the MATCH Series, while Money Multipler took the Monmouth Stakes.