Justify

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 1st-SAR, $88K, Msw, 2yo, f, (S), 5 1/2f, 1:05 p.m.   IM JUST KIDDIN (Justify), a homebred for prolific breeders Chester & Mary Broman, is a half-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint upsetter Bar of Gold (Medaglia d'Oro), who earned over $1.5 million in her career. She herself went on to produce GSW Coinage (Tapit) and $825,000 Fasig-Tipton Select Yearling Sale purchase Chulligan (Justify). Trained by John Kimmel, who also oversaw the career of her successful half-sister, Im Just Kiddin picks up...

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Fukushima and Kokura Racecourses: Sunday, July 3, 2022 3rd-FKS, ¥9,900,000 ($73k), Maiden, 3yo, 1150m THEURGIST (c, 3, Ghostzapper--Orphea, by Medaglia d'Oro) was the most expensive of this outstanding sire's weanlings to sell in 2019, hammering to Paca Paca Farm on...

Triple Crown winners Justify (Scat Daddy) and American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) will not shuttle to Coolmore Australia this year. Justify, off to a strong start with his first 2-year-old in Europe and North America, will be represented by his first Australian 2-year-olds later this year and has two full crops to follow. American Pharoah has five Grade I winners in the Northern Hemisphere and is making his mark in Australia with first-crop Group winners Pretty Amazing and Head of State this season, while his current juvenile crop is headed...

Kept at home as Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never) went to Royal Ascot, TDN Rising Star Statuette (Justify--Immortal Verse {Ire}, by Pivotal {GB}) was able to comfortably follow her stablemate's lead by taking Sunday's G2 Airlie Stud S. at The Curragh. Already the focus of attention on breeding, the chestnut put fuel on the fire with a fluent win on debut over an extended five furlongs at Navan May 28 and travelled easily throughout the early stages of this six-furlong contest formerly known as the Balanchine. Asked to take closer...

Absolutely Zero ran to public's confidence, defeating the boys in Saturday's $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Futurity S. at Santa Anita. The Reddam homebred raced under pressure from the get-go and held a narrow advantage as four of them lined up approaching the top of the stretch. She clearly had something left as they straightened for home and dug down gamely in the stretch to defeat stablemate Tahoma, the first winner for Triple Crown winner Justify, by a measured length. First-time starter Pure Fire, a $315,000 OBSMAR breezer, ran well to finish third....

7th-Churchill Downs, $106,795, Msw, 6-17, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 1:04.34, ft, 2 1/4 lengths. JUST CINDY (f, 2, Justify--Jenda's Agenda {SW, $173,475}, by Proud Citizen), bet down to 6-5 for her career debut, had an awkward beginning, breaking slowly and taking a bobbled step before getting into stride. After settling in behind the leaders in fourth, she began to make up ground along the outside, coming alongside Corningstone (Kantharos) and American Apple (American Pharoah) exiting the far turn. She gained an advantage into the final furlong and kept on to...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 4th-CD, $120K, MSW, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 2:13 p.m.    Homebred filly JUST AN ANGEL (Justify), bred by Mulholland Springs LLC and racing for owners L and N Racing LLC and Mulholland Springs, is the last foal out of GISP Battlefield Angel (Proud Citizen), making her a half-sister to GISP Manny Wah (Will Take Charge). Battlefield Angel herself was a half-sister to MGISP and GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Lookin At Lee (Lookin At Lucky), also campaigned by L and N Racing, and MGSW Blended Citizen...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features a daughter of Group 1 winner Clemmie (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).   5.05 Leopardstown, Mdn, €16,000, 2yo, f, 7fT UNLESS (Justify) is the second progeny by the Triple Crown hero to represent Ballydoyle after Saturday's 'TDN Rising Star' Statuette, and no less fascinating as the first foal...

Coolmore, Westerberg and Merriebelle Stables' 2-year-old filly Statuette (Justify--Immortal Verse {Ire}, by Pivotal {GB}) was hammered into 11-10 favoritism for Saturday's Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden at Navan and justified that welter of support by powering clear of her rivals in the latter stages to attain TDN Rising Stardom on debut. The March-foaled chestnut was well away to track the leaders in a share of third through the early stages. Nudged along to close soon after passing the quarter-mile marker, she quickened smartly to lead with 150 yards remaining...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features a half-sister to Group 1 winner Tenebrism (Caravaggio). 1.05 Navan, Mdn, €16,000, 2yo, f, 5f 162yT STATUETTE (Justify) is the fifth foal out of the G1 Coronation S. and G1 Prix Jacques le Marois heroine Immortal Verse (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), making her a half-sister to last...

1st-Churchill Downs, $117,143, Msw, 5-27, 2yo, 5f, :58.78, ft, 1 3/4 lengths. OWEN'S LEAP (c, 2, Bolt d'Oro--Defy Gravity {SW, $171,240}, by Bandini) became his freshman sire (by Medaglia d'Oro)'s third winner with a powerful performance here on unveiling. Sent off at 5-2 for the contest, the Tom Amoss trainee stalked the early pace of :22.86 and :46.35 from third, challenged outside through the far turn, and came five wide into the lane to take over in the upper stretch. Kept under strong handling, the $175,000 KEESEP alumnus came home...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 1st-CD, $120K, MSW, 2yo, 5f, 12:45 p.m. Todd Pletcher takes the wraps off SUMMONYOURCOURAGE (Practical Joke), a $500,000 KEESEP purchase by Repole Stable and St Elias Stable. The colt is out of a half-sister to GSW Seeking the Sky, who herself went on to produce GI Metropolitan H. winner Sahara Sky (Pleasant Tap). Another half-sister to his dam, Seeking Gabrielle (Forestry), produced GI Kentucky Derby winner and current Darley stallion Nyquist (Uncle Mo). Summonyourcourage enters this off a half-mile breeze from the gate at Belmont...