Justify has no trouble with two turns on Kentucky Derby march

ARCADIA, Calif. – Justify continued his belated push to the Kentucky Derby on Sunday at Santa Anita with a dazzling win in a first-level allowance, a race that should set him up ideally for a major stakes in early April.

The April stakes will be his one shot to earn enough points to run in the Derby on May 5.

Sunday's race was only his second start, and his first around two turns, but he could not have been more impressive. After stalking a hot early pace, he surged powerfully to the lead on the far turn and coasted home 6 1/2 lengths best under jockey Mike Smith.

Justify was timed in 1:35.73 for one mile on a track rated muddy. He earned a second straight triple-digit Beyer Speed Figure with a 101, following the 104 Beyer in his flashy debut victory on Feb. 18.

“He really passed his two-turn test with flying colors,” Smith said.

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Smith said Justify had “the second-race jitters” early in the post parade, but was fine by the time he reached the starting gate. Justify started from the outside post in a field of five, and stalked a brisk pace set by Calexman that went in 22.42 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.10 seconds for a half-mile.

“He’s a young horse with a great mind,” Smith said. “He settled, took a little dirt. He kept passing every test and he’s gearing down” at the end of the race.

Smith said the electrifying move Justify made at the three-furlong pole “just came so natural.”

“He switched leads and opened up,” Smith said.

Smith said he “could go the extra quarter-mile,” referencing the Derby’s 1 1/4 miles.

“Believe it or not, there’s room to improve,” Smith said.

Bob Baffert, who trains Justify, was en route to Ocala, Fla., for a 2-year-old sale. Justify was saddled by his top assistant, Jimmy Barnes. Baffert, via text from the plane after the race, wrote, “Perfect race.”

Justify, a colt by Scat Daddy, won his first start sprinting at Santa Anita under Drayden Van Dyke, but it has always been known this is Smith’s mount.

Smith may have a decision to make in coming weeks, though, if Justify makes his next start on April 7. That is the date McKinzie is set to run in the Santa Anita Derby. It’s hard to imagine Baffert running Justify against McKinzie. Options include the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct and Blue Grass at Keeneland, both of which are also on April 7. The Arkansas Derby, another potential option, is April 14, but both Baffert and the Justify's ownership group – China Horse Club, WinStar Farm and partners – have other potential runners for that race, too.

There's a lot to sort out in coming weeks.

Justify is attempting to become the first horse to win the Kentucky Derby without a start at age 2 since Apollo in 1882.

He was heavily favored on Sunday and paid $2.10 each to win, place, and show, and he caused minus pools in all three pools.