History has been made once again at Belmont for the 13th time.
Justify became the second undefeated Triple Crown champion in horse racing history on Saturday with with a win at the 2018 Belmont Stakes. On top of that, jockey Mike Smith became the oldest jockey to win the Triple Crown at 52 years old.
MORE: Triple Crown winners | Near-misses
It would be disingenuous to say there was any doubt about the result. The chestnut colt paced the group all race long and pulled away with apparent ease down the stretch to win the race at 2:28.18. The good news is that Gronkowski, who was deep in last place for a lot of the race, finished in second.
Witness history!
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) June 9, 2018
Justify becomes the 13th horse to win the #TripleCrown! Watch the full #BelmontStakes race replay, presented by @rocketmortgage. pic.twitter.com/NA6MkfWBdY
Sporting News followed along with the action, and provided live updates and highlights from the Belmont Stakes. Here’s what you might have missed.
Justify wins the 2018 Belmont Stakes
The dream is now a reality!
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) June 9, 2018
Justify has won the #TripleCrown ! pic.twitter.com/I3Tn4pBM1M
Belmont Stakes results
| #-Horse | Win | Place | Show |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Justify | 3.60 | 3.50 | 2.80 |
| 6-Gronkowski | 13.80 | 7.00 | |
| 4-Hofburg | 3.70 |
MORE: Where Triple Crown hopefuls went wrong at Belmont
Live updates from Belmont Park
6:29 p.m. — Almost time.
Tick tock tick tock, let’s do this!
— Belmont Stakes (@BelmontStakes) June 9, 2018
Tune-in on @NBC for full coverage of #Justify ’s attempt at the Triple Crown 👑 pic.twitter.com/FOJ2BJCfoE
5:52 p.m. — ONE. MORE. HOUR!
Race 10 winner: Spring Quality.
SPRING QUALITY and Edgar Prado hit the wire first in the G1 @WoodfordReserve Manhattan! pic.twitter.com/BbjBqsRcec
— Belmont Stakes (@BelmontStakes) June 9, 2018
5:30 p.m. — Gronk being Gronk.
Gronkowski 21-1. Meathead is a scratch. pic.twitter.com/Gj1fVK5QdU
— Jeff Macke (@JeffMacke) June 9, 2018
5:28 p.m. — Internet celebrity Mason Ramsey supports Justify!
. @theMasonRamsey is rooting for Justify to win the #TripleCrown ! 👑👑👑 pic.twitter.com/cfirbSgknh
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) June 9, 2018
Race 9 winner: Bee Jersey.
Amazing Met Mile finish with Bee Jersey just holding on over Mind Your Biscuits. pic.twitter.com/wfEkSf4LRX
— Alicia Wincze Hughes (@BH_AHughes) June 9, 2018
Race 8 winner: A Raving Beauty.
A beautiful ride for A RAVING BEAUTY in the @Longines G1 Just a Game with @iradortiz ! pic.twitter.com/GJzekaseWq
— Belmont Stakes (@BelmontStakes) June 9, 2018
Race 7 winner: Promises Fulfilled.
GII Fountain of Youth winner Promises Fulfilled cuts back in distance and class for the GII Woody Stephens for @romansracing pic.twitter.com/KjsXlBvHvi
— TDN (@theTDN) June 9, 2018
3:28 p.m. — Hype is still real, 30 minutes later.
The @MoheganSun lounge at #BelmontStakes150 is hopping right now @TheNYRA @BelmontStakes pic.twitter.com/Nst72NlzCW
— America'sBestRacing (@ABRLive) June 9, 2018
Race 6 winner: Disco Partner.
One more time in slow mo! Defending champ of the Jaipur, Disco Partner, wins again! See you at #BC18 . 🎉🏇🏻🏆 #WinandYoureIN #LetsDance #NyBred @TheNYRA @nytbreeders pic.twitter.com/1WwZ4J9QXn
— Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) June 9, 2018
3:00 p.m. — The hype is definitely real!
The Triple Crown fever is alive and well 👑 #BelmontStakes150 pic.twitter.com/oW86t77U6y
— Belmont Stakes (@BelmontStakes) June 9, 2018
Race 5 winner: Hoppertunity.
Hoppertunity takes the Brooklyn! pic.twitter.com/dG76Xnb50a
— Alicia Wincze Hughes (@BH_AHughes) June 9, 2018
Race 4 winner: Monomoy Girl.
Monomoy Girl takes the Acorn. pic.twitter.com/Toerp5jxCd
— Alicia Wincze Hughes (@BH_AHughes) June 9, 2018
Race 3 winner: Abel Tasman.
That’s the Abel Tasman we know, striding out to victory in the Ogden Phipps! pic.twitter.com/PFZitUrzQu
— Alicia Wincze Hughes (@BH_AHughes) June 9, 2018
Race 2 winner : Prince Lucky.
Prince Lucky (Corinthian) gets up for the win in the Easy Goer pic.twitter.com/lFdy2RkuKX
— TDN (@theTDN) June 9, 2018
And now for an obligatory throwback tweet from Darren Rovell:
45 Years Ago Today: Secretariat wins the Belmont in perhaps the most dominating performance in sports history, 2:24 time still stands as the record today. pic.twitter.com/qgB73y3CKe
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) June 9, 2018
Race 1 winner : La Moneda.
Belmont Stakes1 carrera Belmont les gana #1 La Moneda
— SHANTAL 拉尼娜 ® (@lomejordetrack) June 9, 2018
Jockey:Javier Castellano
Trainer:Thomas Morley
Owner:Patricia L. Moseley
Breeder:Patricia L. Moseley pic.twitter.com/TtsVFkifzA