Rain. It wasn't just a drizzle; it was a deluge. On May 5, 2018, Churchill Downs turned into a chocolate-colored soup. You’ve probably seen the footage of horses disappearing into the mist on the backstretch. It looked miserable. But out of that muck emerged a bright chestnut horse with a massive white blaze, looking like he’d just stepped out of a painting rather than a swamp. That was Justify, the 2018 Kentucky Derby winner, and honestly, we haven’t seen anything quite like him since.
He didn't just win; he dominated.
Most people remember the win, but they forget how much was stacked against him. Justify was trying to break the "Curse of Apollo." See, since 1882, no horse had won the Kentucky Derby without racing as a two-year-old. It was one of those "impossible" stats sports bettors love to cite. Then came Bob Baffert’s powerhouse, skipping his entire freshman year and showing up to Louisville with only three career starts. Three. That's basically unheard of for a Derby favorite. Yet, there he was, splashing through the slop to hold off a very game Good Magic and a closing Audible.
The Scopolamine Shadow and the 2018 Kentucky Derby Winner
You can't talk about Justify without talking about the drama. It’s impossible. If you’re looking for a clean, fairytale story, horse racing usually isn't the place to find it. About a month before he ever stepped foot in the Derby starting gate, Justify won the Santa Anita Derby. It was a big deal. But later, reports surfaced—broken by the New York Times—that he had actually tested positive for scopolamine, a banned substance, after that race.
Basically, if the California Horse Racing Board had disqualified him then, he wouldn't have even had enough points to enter the Kentucky Derby. He would’ve been a footnote. Instead, the board kept it quiet, later attributing the positive test to environmental contamination from jimsonweed. This has sparked years of lawsuits and heated debates among turf writers and fans. Was he a "cheater," or was it just bad luck with some weeds in the hay? Most experts, like those at the BloodHorse, lean toward the contamination theory because scopolamine isn't exactly a go-to performance enhancer, but the timing was, well, awkward to say the least.
👉 See also: Tom Brady Throwing Motion: What Most People Get Wrong
Regardless of the boardroom battles, what happened on the track was pure physical brilliance. Mike Smith, "Big Money Mike," was in the irons. He knew he had a freak of nature underneath him. Justify broke fast, sat near a blistering pace of 22.24 seconds for the first quarter-mile—which is suicidal in a 1.25-mile race—and just... kept going.
Why the Triple Crown Run Felt Different
After Louisville, the circus moved to Pimlico for the Preakness. It was even foggier there. You literally couldn't see the horses on the far turn. When they emerged from the gray curtain, Justify was still in front, though Bravazo was breathing down his neck. He won by a half-length. It was gritty. It wasn't the blowout we saw in the Derby, but it showed the horse had a "find a way to win" gear that separates the greats from the merely good.
By the time the Belmont Stakes rolled around, the hype was reaching American Pharoah levels.
Justify became the 13th Triple Crown winner in history. He did it in just 111 days. Think about that. From his very first race in February to the Triple Crown in June, he went from an unknown to a legend in under four months. Then, he vanished. An ankle injury (filling in the fetlock) was cited, and he was retired to stud at Ashford Stud in Kentucky. He’s the only Triple Crown winner to retire undefeated. Some fans feel cheated by that. They wanted to see him race as a four-year-old, to see him take on older horses in the Breeders' Cup. We never got that.
✨ Don't miss: The Philadelphia Phillies Boston Red Sox Rivalry: Why This Interleague Matchup Always Feels Personal
Breaking Down the Physicality
Justify was a massive horse. Scoped out, he looked more like a Quarter Horse than a classic lean Thoroughbred. He stood about 16.3 hands high. His stride was massive. When you watch the 2018 Kentucky Derby winner's replays, look at his hindquarters. The power he generated in that deep mud was staggering. Most horses hate the "kickback"—the mud flying into their faces from the horses in front. Justify solved that problem by simply staying in front of everyone.
- Trainer: Bob Baffert
- Jockey: Mike Smith
- Owner: China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing, WinStar Farm
- Sire: Scat Daddy
- Dam: Stage Magic
He wasn't just a "Baffert horse." He was a Scat Daddy son. Scat Daddy was a sire who died way too young but left a massive impact on the sport. Justify was his crowning achievement.
The Legacy of the 2018 Run
So, where does he rank? It's a tough one. If you talk to old-timers, they’ll say he’s not in the same league as Secretariat or Citation because he didn't have the longevity. He had a "meteor" career. Fast, bright, and over in a blink. But the speed figures don't lie. His Beyer Speed Figures were consistently in the triple digits.
The controversy surrounding his Santa Anita test will always be a "yeah, but" for some people. In 2024, a California judge actually ordered the CHRB to vacate Justify’s win in the Santa Anita Derby due to the drug test, which adds another layer of weirdness to his history. Technically, if you follow that thread, his "Triple Crown" has a massive asterisk next to it in the eyes of some legal purists. But the Kentucky Derby win still stands. The Preakness stands. The Belmont stands.
🔗 Read more: The Eagles and Chiefs Score That Changed Everything for Philadelphia and Kansas City
He was a polarizing figure in a polarizing era for horse racing.
What You Should Take Away
If you're looking into the history of the 2018 Kentucky Derby winner, don't just look at the win-loss column. Look at the timing. He arrived at a moment when the sport needed a superstar to follow American Pharoah. He provided the thrills, the speed, and the drama.
Whether you think he was a lucky horse who benefited from a protective racing board or a generational talent who overcame a century-old curse, you have to admit: the 2018 Derby was one of the most visually stunning races in the history of the sport. Watching that bright orange horse cut through the gray mist of Churchill Downs is an image that stays with you.
Actionable Steps for Horse Racing Fans
If you want to understand Justify's impact better, or if you're looking to get into the sport today, here is what you should do next:
- Watch the 2018 Belmont Stakes replay on YouTube. Pay attention to the start. Justify’s stablemate, Restoring Hope, arguably helped him out by blocking other horses, a move that still gets people's blood boiling. Watch the tactical positioning and decide for yourself.
- Check out his offspring. Justify is currently a very successful sire. His daughter, Just F Y I, won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Looking at how his "kids" run is the best way to see his physical legacy in action today.
- Visit Ashford Stud. If you’re ever in Versailles, Kentucky, you can actually book a tour to see him. He’s still there, looking as massive as ever, living the life of a king. It’s a great way to see the sheer scale of a Triple Crown winner up close.
- Read the CHRB 2024 ruling. If you're into the legal side of sports, look up the recent court documents regarding the Santa Anita Derby disqualification. It’s a fascinating look at how drug testing and racing law intersect years after the fact.
The story of Justify isn't just about a horse race. It's about a 136-year-old curse, a muddy day in Kentucky, and a debate that might never actually end. That’s the thing about the Derby—the race only lasts two minutes, but the arguments last forever.