With Saturday’s triumph, Baffert, 65, became only the second trainer to win two Triple Crowns (along with the late James “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons, whose triumphs came in 1930 and 1935, with Gallant Fox and Omaha, respectively). He also pulled ahead of longtime friend and rival trainer D. Wayne Lukas, 82, to claim a record 15 wins in Triple Crown races (five Kentucky Derbys, seven Preakness Stakes and three Belmont Stakes). But Baffert was far more interested afterward in speaking about how fitting and satisfying it felt to help Justify place his name alongside those of such champions as Secretariat, who had claimed his Triple Crown 45 years to the day earlier, winning the Belmont by a record 31 lengths, in a record 2:24.<doc-sep>Advertisement Justify has won the Belmont Stakes and become the 13th horse to win the Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing, days after it was revealed billionaire international financier George Soros is a 15 per cent stakeholder in the winner. The chestnut colt's wire-to-wire victory came in the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes Championship Horse Race on Saturday at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Jockey Mike Smith, 52, was overjoyed after crossing the finish line atop Justify with a healthy lead on the second place finisher Gronkowski. Finishing third was Hofburg. 'I thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,' said Smith, the oldest jockey to win the Triple Crown, immediately after the race. 'This horse ran an amazing race. He's sent from heaven.' It was the second Triple Crown win for trainer Bob Baffert, who also trained the 2015 winner American Pharaoh. Justify, with jockey Mike Smith up, crosses the finish line to win the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race Saturday Justify took the lead out of the gate and never relented, winning wire-to-wire on the mile and a half track Justify, right, with jockey Mike Smith, leads the pack in the final turn in the 1 1/2 mile Belmont Stake to win the Triple Crown Justify, right, leads the pack in the final turn in the 1 1/2 mile Belmont Stakes on the way to winning the horse race In a move that shocked the superstitious, Justify's jockey Mike Smith switched his riding silks from those he wore in his successful Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes runs Justify (right) beat out Gronkowski (left), which is part owned by New England Patriots star Ron Gronkowski Justify with jockey Mike Smith aboard wins the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown Justify with jockey Mike Smith aboard wins the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes at the massive Belmont Park Kenny Trout and his family celebrate Justiy's win in the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park It was just the second time in 40 years for a horse to win the coveted Triple Crown, winning the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont. The mile-and-a-half track at Belmont, significantly longer than the first two races in the Triple Crown, is known as the test of champions and the hardest race in the series. Justify was a complete unknown just 16 weeks ago, having not raced as a two-year-old. The horse has since gone on to win every race it has run. The champion colt got an early jump out of the gate in the first post position, one that trainer Baffert likes to avoid but which turned to Justify's advantage. Restoring Hope, also trained by Baffert, ran interference for Justify by holding in second position on the outside, forcing would-be challengers to swing extra wide. Jockey Smith made it look easy, working the colt in a relaxed pace though the back stretch and holding firm for the lead. Justify led for the entirety of the Belmont Stakes, completing the mile and a half in an unofficial time of 2 minutes 28.18 seconds. Justify paid 4/5 for the win, while Gronkowski was 24-1 and Hofburg was 5-1. Jockey Mike Smith celebrates aboard Justify after winning the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes Smith atop Justify in the winners circle after winning the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown Jockey Mike Smith , Bob Baffert (center) and Bode Baffert hold the 150th Belmont Stakes trophy after Justify won the race Jockey Mike Smith, 52, (above) was overjoyed after crossing the finish line atop Justify with a healthy lead It was the second Triple Crown win for trainer Bob Baffert (center) who had two horses running in the race In a move that shocked the superstitious, Justify's jockey Mike Smith switched his riding silks from those he wore in his successful Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes runs. Instead of the mostly white silks of 60 per cent owner WinStar Farm, Smith wore the bright red and yellow star-spangled silks of China Horse Club, which bought a 25 per cent piece of the horse last year. This week, it was revealed that Soros is also a 15 per cent stakeholder in Justify. Earlier in the day, crowds of well-heeled racegoers descended on Belmont Park for the annual spectacle. Revellers place their bets at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, on Saturday at the 150th Belmont Stakes Bob Baffert, the legendary horse trainer who took Justify to success at the Kentucky Derby last month, won the Brooklyn Invitational with Hoppertunity. He is pictured during the race on Saturday As sun drenched the historic track on Saturday, the revelers placed bets and soaked up the many drinks and snacks on offer before turning their attention to the action. Among those who had a prime spot was Bob Baffert, the legendary horse trainer. Baffert also had successes with his other horses in the day's earlier races. He won the $400,000 Brooklyn Invitational with Hoppertunity. The 7-year-old bay horse won by 2 1/4 lengths and paid $9.10 to win - a generous price on a Baffert trainee. Earlier, Baffert and jockey Mike Smith teamed to win the $750,000 Ogden Phipps with Abel Tasman. Hungry revellers scoffed curly friends washed down with Coors light while taking puffs from their cigars A woman in an elaborate red and pink headdress scowls as she and others take in the action Men in brightly colored suits with quirky patterns chat and puff cigars while soaking up the atmosphere Two women show off their elaborate headdresses at the Belmont Park race track on Saturday Colorful racegoers take a break from the action on Saturday as they battle the heat at New York's Belmont Park<doc-sep>Cheered on by fans wearing yellow foam crowns instead of the Egyptian headdresses that greeted American Pharoah in 2015, Justify won the Belmont Stakes in emphatic fashion on Saturday to earn a crown of his own. Some may believe it is not as golden as American Pharoah’s, but it is a crown nonetheless. With a white blaze, a sweeping stride and an unblemished record, Justify came to the site where Pharoah ended a 37-year Triple Crown drought and, guided by the same trainer, took his own shot at history. Ridden by the 52-year-old ironman Mike Smith, Justify did not disappoint the crowd of about 90,000 as he quickly went to the lead and stayed there, despite a pack of contenders closing in behind him, to capture the 150th Belmont Stakes by a length and three-quarters and become the 13th Triple Crown winner.<doc-sep>Justify, without a doubt. The undefeated thoroughbred became the 13th horse to win the American Triple Crown on Saturday at the Belmont Stakes, grabbing the hole shot out of Post 1 and never giving up the lead. After trouncing through the mud at the Kentucky Derby, bursting out of the gate at the Preakness Stakes and setting himself up for a chance at giving Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert his second Triple Crown in four years, the Apollo Curse conqueror absolutely dominated Belmont Park's 1.5-mile track, cementing his name in racing history with a cruise down the back stretch. Baffert's other Belmont contender -- long shot Restoring Hope -- surprised out of the gate by sticking in second place before Gronkowski, the European star named after New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, pulled into the No. 2 spot. But Justify just downright dominated the race from start to finish, at one point gaining a two-length lead, and overcoming a push from Bravazo as he stormed toward the finish line with a triumphant stride and an 11-length lead that will go down in history. In capturing the Triple Crown, Justify also became the first horse to win the Belmont Stakes out of Post 1 since 2003, capturing his third victory in five weeks after two straight races out of Post 7. Hofburg, who entered the race as oddsmakers' No. 2 choice, finished in third, while Vino Rosso, a popular Kentucky Derby sleeper, came in at fourth. Here's the full results from the race. 150th Belmont Stakes results Position, horse 1. Justify 2. Gronkowski 3. Hofburg 4. Vino Rosso 5. Tenfold 6. Bravazo 7. Free Drop Billy 8. Restoring Hope 9. Blended Citizen 10. Noble Indy You can relive all of the action at the 2018 Belmont Stakes with a look back at our live updates below. If the stream isn't working for you, click here.<doc-sep>
(Reuters) - Justify won the Belmont Stakes in New York on Saturday to claim U.S. thoroughbred racing’s coveted Triple Crown, becoming just the second horse to achieve the feat since 1978 and the 13th overall. The favored three-year-old chestnut colt seized an early lead he never relinquished as he stormed around the 1.5 mile (12-furlong) course in two minutes 28.18 seconds for the wire-to-wire win at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The 24-1 long-shot Gronkowski battled from the back of the pack to cross the line second, almost two lengths behind Justify, while the 5-1 Hofburg finished third amid overcast but dry conditions. The victory marks the second Triple Crown win for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who also won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes with American Pharoah in 2015. “This never gets old,” an emotional Baffert said after the race. “American Pharoah, he’ll always be my first love. For this horse to do it for (jockey) Mike Smith, he deserved something like this. It feels pretty good.” Baffert said Justify was simply the best horse at the track on Saturday. “He could have won every race on the undercard today, he’s just that kind of horse.” The large and muscular Justify, owned by China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing & WinStar Farm, made 52-year-old Smith the oldest jockey to ever win the Triple Crown. “This horse ran a tremendous race. He’s so gifted he’s sent from heaven,” Smith said of Justify, who was the 4/5 favorite. “He’s just brilliant.” Smith thanked Baffert for giving him the opportunity to ride Justify into the history books. “He’s made a lot of my goals come true but today, he made my dream come true. I appreciate it.” Slideshow ( 14 images ) Justify was sired by Champagne Stakes and Florida Derby champion Scat Daddy and was born at Glenwood Farm in Versailles, Kentucky. From early on, Baffert said it was clear that Justify was special. “I’ve wanted to see that horse’s name up there because we knew he was brilliant from day one.” Slideshow ( 14 images ) With the win, Justify, who did not race as a two-year-old, improved to 6-0 in his young career, which started just 111 days ago. Some had wondered whether the colt might show signs of fatigue following a busy schedule but that was not the case as he broke from his number one post position and was never seriously challenged by any of the other nine horses. Saturday’s race, the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes, marked the fifth time Baffert came to Belmont with a shot at the Triple Crown.