Justify will jump from barrier one in the Belmont Stakes as he bids to win the final leg of United States thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown.
Justify has been installed the 4-5 favourite to add Saturday’s Belmont Stakes (2400m) to his Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes victories.
If he can, he will become the 13th Triple Crown winner and the second since the Bob Baffert-trained American Pharoah became the first since 1978 three years ago.
Trained by Baffert and to be ridden by Mike Smith, Justify is unbeaten in five starts and will be tested by some fresher horses in the Belmont Stakes, which has often ended the dreams of many Triple Crown hopefuls.
“I never do like to draw the rail, but my horses seem to live in it,” Baffert said.
“I just feel that, I think most importantly, the horse is doing well. We have it. We can’t change it. So we’ll just deal with it.”
Justify will line up with nine horses to his right as part of a field that includes five horses he beat during a rain-soaked Kentucky Derby and two he beat in a wet and foggy Preakness Stakes.
Hofburg, who is trained by William Mott and ridden by Irad Ortiz, drew gate four and is the second choice at 9-2.
Preakness runner-up Bravazo, the only other horse besides Justify who will be competing in each leg of the Triple Crown, and Vino Rosso were both were installed at 8-1 while the rest of the field is 12-1 or longer.
The D Wayne Lukas-trained Bravazo, who finished a half-length behind Justify at the Preakness, will jump from three.
Showers are expected in Elmont New York, where the race for three-year-olds will be run on Saturday (Sunday AEST).
