Justify Clinches Triple Crown - Belmont Day Results! - Super Screener
Super Screener

Justify Clinches Triple Crown – Belmont Day Results!

Photo by Bob Mayberger/Eclipse Sportswire

Belmont Stakes (G1)

Would he or wouldn’t he? Justify defied all to masterfully win the Triple Crown and did so going wire-to-wire on an open and clear lead. Restoring Hope was used to keep Noble Indy in check and Bravazo regressed as projected chasing Justify in the early going.  Both Hofburg and Vino Rosso ran very good races finishing on even terms for third and fourth, respectively, and well clear of the rest.

 

As only the 13th Triple Crown winner in history, Justify stands apart from the rest as the only horse that won the Crown without a race at 2 years-old.  He remains undefeated and can now get that deserved rest as he continues his campaign later this summer on his way to the Breeders’ Cup Classic.  Could we see a showdown between Justify and stablemate West Coast?

 

What may get overlooked in Justify’s capturing of the Triple Crown is the incredible race Gronkowski ran, surprising even his trainer, Chad Brown.  What handicapping service anticipated Gronkowski would finish a strong 2nd in this race?  Considering he had to overcome not running since March, never having run beyond a mile, running on dirt for the first time, coming up sick before the Kentucky Derby and then on top of that, breaking slow and ending up 15 lengths off Justify in the early going was just mind numbing.  

 

In the end, the Super Screener Super Stars of Justify, Hofburg and Vino Rosso finished 1-3-4 and we can now look forward to the Haskell and Travers Stakes in the weeks to come as this second chapter of the top 3 year-olds begins.  

 

Manhattan (G1)

Of the 9 long shots in this race, the Super Screener Top Long Shot picks finished 1st and 4th at odds of 18-1 and 30-1, respectively.  Despite his poor outside draw, Spring Quality came from nearly last in the field to roll past all in what turned out to be a very pressured pace set up as projected by the Super Screener. Mantoulin was piloted by Mike Smith who was in contention throughout but managed to hold on gamely to 4th place at those monster odds.  Here’s what the Super Screener had to say about these top long shot picks:

 

“#13 Spring Quality would have been ranked even higher by the Super Screener had it not been for that draw that in all likelihood leaves him stranded with a very wide trip into the first turn on a turf course where the best spot to be right now is on the inside.  Regardless, this is a quality 6 year-old that has been deftly managed by the top barn having raced only 10 times but hitting the Exacta in 8 of those starts.  #11 Manitoulin is a top long shot pick here as he had no chance in his 2018 debut against a very slow pace after getting knocked around early.  Thrives on more ground and loves this turf. Use under!”

 

The Super Screener Top Board Hitter pick, Hi Happy, finished 3rd and the Super Screener Top Value pick, Sadler’s Joy finished a very game 2nd coming from last of all in the field of 13.

 

The top 4 finishers in the race came from that top 6 ranked horses by the Super Screener which lead to the suggested Superfecta score of over $2,000.

 

Met Mile (G1)

The Super Screener Top Win and Top Value pick, Bee Jersey, continued that impressive form cycle ascent while taking this field through brisk fractions and holding on gallantly for the win.  

 

“What a great edition of the G1 Met Mile as this is one of the deepest fields on the Belmont Stakes Day card.  In addition, for a large field it is relatively devoid of speed and that gives the Super Screener top win pick #10 Bee Jersey, out of the Steve Asmussen barn, the edge.  He’ll be the dangerous controlling pace staying off what has been a dead rail as of late backing up the field through modest fractions leaving plenty of energy in reserve to scoot away from the field in that final furlong.  His closest pursuers will be #3 Limousine Liberal, #6 One Liner, #8 Ransom the Moon and #9 Warriors Club with three of those being stretch out sprinters.  He has hit the Exacta 7 times in 9 starts and he has progressed gradually in each of his three starts.  He probably has one more move forward in him but even if he regresses slightly, that is good enough to win this especially as the controlling pace.  May even get some value given the depth of the field and the popularity of other players.”

 

Mind Your Biscuits finished a solid 2nd in this race just as he did last year demonstrating that he will continue to be a force to reckon with on his way back to another appearance in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

 

Interesting to see that Bolt d’ Oro finished last and one had to question why connections would have thrown this tired 3 year-old against older and much superior competition when the plan was to rest him and come back to a stakes race restricted to 3 year-olds later in the summer.  Can’t believe how badly they have mishandled this colt.

 

The Super Screener suggested Trifecta and Exacta wagers fired for nearly $1,000 despite the favorites finishing 1-2.

 

Jaipur (G2)

It was déjà vu all over again as last year’s winner of the G2 Jaipur, Disco Partner, stormed home again taking advantage of another hot and pressured pace set up by his stablemate, Pure Sensation, who, as we anticipated played the role of “rabbit” for Disco Partner just as he did last year.  Considering he just came off an injury he ran one heck of a race to hold 3rd.  He will pop a big race next out and is one to follow as he cuts back to his wheelhouse 5f distance as he now heads to Parx for the G3 Parx Dash which he won last year coming out of the Jaipur.

 

Conquest Tsunami uncharacteristically pressed the pace instead of driving it and was good enough to hold on for second at 6-1 as a Super Screener top choice and the better of the two Peter Miller horses.

 

Here’s what the Super Screener had to say about the Exacta finishers prior to the race:

 

“#5 Disco Partner is the clear Super Screener Top Board Hitter pick and a Trifecta finish is about as certain as it gets.  He has won 7 races in 11 starts on the Belmont turf and he gets back to the firm turf condition he needs for engaging that late kick.  He won’t be too far back, maybe just about 4 lengths off the speed battle up front and then come with that big rush.

 

Peter Miller, who is lights out in So. Cal with turf sprinters, brings last year’s Breeders Cup Turf Sprint winner #1 Stormy Liberal and G3 Daytona Stakes winner, #4 Conquest Tsunami to this race and it is the speedy latter gelding that may actually like this turf course better than his stablemate who needs rock firm turf courses for his best outcomes.  In addition, the Belmont Turf course has been quite kind to speed types. Look for #4 Conquest Tsunami to be your clear pace leader here.”

 

The Super Screener suggested Exacta wagers clicked for $520.

 

Just A Game (G1)

It was the “other” Chad Brown horse, A Raving Beauty, that proved best on the day.  Screener Top Win picks, Lull and Off limits, finshed 3rd and 4th respectively.  Proctor’s Ledge once again outran her Super Screener score.

Woody Stephens (G2)

It was a Super Screener Top Long Shot pick, Still Having Fun, that took advantage of the projected hot and swift pace which indeed materialized and he won going away at odds of 13-1.  Engage, out of the Chad Brown barn, ran another good race sitting off the pace and was good enough to finish a clear second.

 

#6 Still Having Fun TOP LONG SHOT Very interesting MD-based sprinter that has competed well when sprinting and will get overlooked here due to humble connections.  Very consistent sort when sprinting and gets a hot pace must be included in Tris and Supers. 15-1 C if spreading

 

Strike Power disappointed as a top win player getting consumed by the hot pace and Madison’s Luna broke tardy from the inside and was never a factor.

 

On a day that featured some nice scores on the undercard, and then we get treated to a dazzling and historic Triple Crown winner, it just doesn’t get any better than that.  But wait, there’s more! Next Saturday the spotlight turns to Churchill Downs with a card that features five Graded Stakes anchored by the G1 Stephen Foster, which will feature horses that were big players on the Triple Crown trail last year including Irish War Cry, Lookin At Lee and Girvin.  Should be another super day of summer racing.

Until this weekend, Go Fast and Win!

 

Mike