Justify emerged as the winner of an exciting race on Saturday afternoon. The 144th Kentucky Derby was the wettest in history, with a 24-hour precipitation of 3.15” and a muddy track to show for it. Steady rain provided just enough unpredictability to cast a doubt on if this year’s favorite would come through victorious, but Bob Baffert-trained Justify proved worthy. Finishing with a time of 2 minutes 4.20 seconds, Justify was able to edge out Good Magic and Audible by 2 ½ lengths.
The 3-year-old thoroughbred is the first horse to win the Derby after not starting as a 2-year-old in 136 years. Known as the “Curse of Apollo”, this superstition is one of the longest running in sports history and is traced back to when Apollo won the Kentucky Derby in 1882, beating out favorite Runnymede.
Trainer Bob Baffert paid little attention to the superstition though, and earned his fifth Derby win. Congratulations to Justify, Bob Baffert, and jockey Mike E. Smith! Anderson Hay is proud to supply Baffert and Justify with high quality forage products to fuel these historic wins.
If you missed the race, check it out below! Want to know more about Anderson Hay’s products? Contact us online.
