First Crop Sire JUSTIFY saw his daughter
JUSTIQUE (2f Justify x Grazie Millie, by Bernardini) become his
Sixth (6th) Individual Stakes Winner on Saturday at Del Mar with an impressive victory in the
Desi Arnaz Stakes LR over 1400m.
JUSTIQUE winning the Dezi Arnaz
Bred by John Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock – the same group that bred both her sire and her half-brother Mo Town – the TDN Rising Star showed just how talented she is.
Jumping from barrier one in the 1400m stakes race,
Justique was slowly away and was happy to stay there at the back of the field – in what is turning into her natural racing style. The filly had her backers a little concerned when she raced over a dozen lengths behind the leaders down the back straight but as they entered the home turn, she put that worry to rest.
Not asked for an effort,
Justique quickly caught up to the field into the top turn, and in only a few strides had multiple horses behind her. By the time they entered the top of the home straight, the filly was just behind the leaders and went around them all as she put them to the sword with 300m to run. Never asked for all her effort at any point,
Justique won by an eased down 2¼ lengths for trainer John Shirreffs.
Jockey Victor Espinoza said:
“At the half mile (800m) she started to pick it up. When she wants to, she’s quick; very quick. I moved up next to those horses on the turn and in two or three jumps she’s in front. She’s something. And if she goes longer? I think she’ll be better,”.
A $725,000 Keeneland September Yearling purchase,
Justique has won two of her three starts and was third in the Group 2 Chandelier last start. She is now being pointed to the Group 1 Kentucky Oaks next spring.
Justique is out of the winning mare Grazie Mille, who produced Group 1 winner Mo Town as wel,l from her three winners. Grazie Mille is a daughter of Group 3 winner Molto Vita, who also produced the stakes winning duo of Venetian Mask and Jaguar Paw in addition to the stakes placed Panthera Onca. Grazie Millie also foaled a full sister to
Justique this year.
JUSTIFY - Sensational First Crop Sire in the USA
Justify has had 10 Stakes Horses already plus another 2 Stakes Performers.
He leads all stallions by number of Group Stakes Winners with Four and by Stakes Winners with Six.
He also has Four Stakes Placegetters as well as his Two Stakes Performers (a Gr1 4th & a Gr3 4th) which places him as the best among all North American stallions this season as well.
This is super impressive for a First Season Sire.
Runners Winners Placed Wins SW SP Earnings
61 23 20 28 6 4 Over A$3 million
37.7% 70.5%