Hawker Newest Winner for Justify
Hawker (3c Justify x Flaming Heart, by Touch Gold) became the 30th winner for Justify on Saturday in a Santa Anita Maiden Special Weight.
The colt was never far from the lead in the 6 ½ furlong turf race, racing two lengths off the leader a few paths from the rail. He was moved out a few paths wider by jockey Kazushi Kimura once the field hit the stretch to show off his long stride as he chased down the leader.
That stride allowed him to get up in the shadow of the wire to win by half a length for Hronis Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Woodford Racing.
Trained by John Sadler, Hawker was a $675,000 Keeneland September purchase by his racing connections from Taylor Made Sales Agency.
Bred by WinStar Farm, he is out of the stakes winner and successful broodmare Flaming Heart. That mare also produced multiple graded stakes winner Commissioner, Grade III winner and Grade I placed Laugh Track, and the dam of champion Vino Rosso.
Flaming Heart is one of three stakes producers out of Hot Lear, who is also the third dam of Practical Joke’s Grade II winning Practical Move.
Justify’s 30 winners is third best among all second crop sires by winners alongside Mendelssohn with his 75 runners including a generational best seven graded stakes performers in addition to six stakes winners and 10 stakes performers led by four graded stakes winners.