Harlocap Second Winner of Weekend for Justify

It was a two-winner weekend for Justify at Santa Anita Park when Harlocap (3c Justify x Mezinka, by Bodemeister) broke his maiden by 4 ½ lengths on Sunday afternoon.

The Bob Baffert trainee went straight to the front in the 1 1/16 mile dirt race to set an easy pace up front. Refusing to bow down to any pressure the field gave him throughout the race, he wasn’t asked for more by John Velazquez until they started the run down the stretch and the race was all but over from there.

He steadily drew away in the final stages to show why he was the heavy favorite with the third placed horse 9 ¾ lengths behind him.

Racing for Villa Rosa Farm and Harlo Stables, the Breed First-bred was a $400,000 2-year-old purchase by his connections last year.

Harlocap is out of Mezinka, a three-quarter sister to dual Grade I winner Pioneerof the Nile and to multiple graded stakes placed Forefathers with another half-sister producing three stakes performers. His stakes winning second dam is also a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Powis Castle.

Mezinka also had an Uncle Mo colt in 2021 sell for $250,000 last year.

A standout sire with his first crop, Justify’s 31 winners include seven graded stakes performers, six stakes winners, and 10 stakes performers, led by four graded stakes winners.