Triple Crown Hopeful Justify Leads Six Keeneland Sales Graduates among 10 Horses Entered in Belmont
By Amy Owens —-
Red Mile to simulcast Belmont Stakes Racing Festival
LEXINGTON, KY (June 6, 2018) – China Horse Club International, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing and WinStar Farm’s undefeated Justify, sold for $500,000 at Keeneland’s 2016 September Yearling Sale, will capture the Triple Crown with a victory in Saturday’s 150th running of the $1.5 million Belmont Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) at Belmont Park.
Justify, the 4-5 morning-line favorite to win the Belmont, is one of six graduates of Keeneland sales that are among the 10 3-year-old colts entered Tuesday in the race. Justify is the latest among the 22 Kentucky Derby (G1) winners and 24 Preakness (G1) winners produced by Keeneland sales.
Keeneland sales graduates entered in the 2018 Belmont are:
Blended Citizen (Proud Citizen-Langara Lass) – The Peter Pan (G3) and Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner was offered by Penn Sales, agent for breeder Ray Hanson, at the September Sale. Doug O’Neill trains Blended Citizen for owners SAYJAY Racing, Greg Hall and Brooke Hubbard. He will be ridden in the Belmont by Kyle Frey.
Free Drop Billy (Union Rags-Trensa) – Bred by Helen K. Groves Revocable Trust, Free Drop Billy was consigned by Gainesway, agent, to the September Sale and sold for $200,000 to Kempton/Berkelhammer, agents for owner Albaugh Family Stables. Dale Romans trains Free Drop Billy, who was second in the Holy Bull (G2) and third in the Toyota Blue Grass (G2) at Keeneland and Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct. Winner of Keeneland’s Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) in 2017, Free Drop Billy will be ridden by Robby Albarado.
Gronkowski (Lonhro [AUS]-Four Sugars) – The Belmont will mark the North American debut for Gronkowski, who was consigned as a weanling by Trackside Farm, agent, to the 2015 November Breeding Stock Sale and sold to Margaret O’Toole for $75,000. Epic Thoroughbreds bred the colt, who began his career in England for owner Phoenix Thoroughbred. III Jose Ortiz will ride Gronkowski for trainer Chad Brown.
Justify (Scat Daddy-Stage Magic) – Breeder John D. Gunther’s Glennwood Farm, agent, consigned Justify to the September Sale, where he sold for $500,000 to China Horse Club and Maverick Racing. Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Mike Smith, Justify races for China Horse Club International, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing and WinStar Farm.
Noble Indy (Take Charge Indy-Noble Maz) – WinStar Farm bred Noble Indy, winner of the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2), and races him with Repole Stable. Denali Stud, agent, offered the colt at the September Sale. Javier Castellano will ride Noble Indy for trainer Todd Pletcher.
Vino Rosso (Curlin-Mythical Bride) – John D. Gunther also bred Vino Rosso, the Wood Memorial Presented by NYRA Bets (G2) winner who races for Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable. Glennwood Farm, agent, consigned Vino Rosso to the September Sale, where he sold for $410,000 to Mike Repole/St. Elias, J.J. Crupi, agent. The colt is trained by Todd Pletcher and will be ridden by John Velazquez.
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Red Mile welcomes racing fans to watch and wager on the June 7-9 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival and enjoy simulcast racing from other major North American race tracks.
Advance wagering for Saturday’s entire Belmont Day card is available at Red Mile beginning Thursday at 12:30 p.m. The Belmont caps a $500,000-Guaranteed Pick 6 that begins with the sixth race and a $1.5-million Guaranteed Late Pick 4 starting with race eight.
On Saturday, the first scheduled post at the track is 11:35 a.m ET. The Belmont undercard includes the Acorn (G1), Just a Game, (G1), Ogden Phipps (G1), Runhappy Metropolitan (G1), Woodford Reserve Manhattan (G1), Brooklyn Invitational (G2), Jaipur Invitational (G2) and Woody Stephens (G2).
Post time for the Belmont is 6:46 p.m.
Fans also have the option to wager online through KeenelandSelect.com.
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For more than 80 years, the Keeneland Association has devoted itself to the health and vibrancy of the Thoroughbred industry. As the world’s largest Thoroughbred auction company, Keeneland conducts sales every January, September and November. Its sales graduates dominate racing across the globe at every level. In April and October, Keeneland offers some of the highest caliber and richest Thoroughbred racing in the world. In 2015, Keeneland hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Uniquely structured, Keeneland is a private, for-profit corporation that returns its earnings to the industry and the community in the form of higher purses, and it has donated millions of dollars in charitable contributions for education, research and health and human services throughout Central Kentucky. To learn more about Keeneland, visit Keeneland.com.