Justify Filly on Breeders’ Cup Distaff Trail After Empress Hai Win

Justify’s Awesome Result (4f Justify x Blossomed, by Deputy Minister) put herself firmly on the road to the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Distaff Wednesday with a win in the Listed Empress Hai in Japan.

Racing over just over 1 5/16 miles on the dirt, the filly was first put in second by jockey Yutaka Take before being allowed to take the lead. Keeping a comfortable margin down the backstretch, she wasn’t asked for a serious burst of speed until just outside the final furlong.

It was close at the line, but Awesome Result kept her neck in front to take her record to six victories from six starts.

“There was a lot of cause for concern, because it was her first stakes race, racing at night and the tight turns, but the horse's ability and the was the jockey rode her won the race,” trainer Yasutoshi Ikee told Netkeiba. “After this I hope to have one or two races in Japan and then challenge the Breeders' Cup Distaff.”

Owned by Insel Racing, Awesome Result was bred by Orpendale, Chelston, and Wynatt out of a half-sister to Grade I winner Sippican Harbor.

Her dam Blossomed also produced Grade III-placed Bodacious Babe, who produced multiple stakes placer and Grade I fourth placed Royal Spa, among her nine winners from 10 to race. Blossomed is a half-sister to Grade III winner CInemine and stakes winner Flick, with both of those mares also producing stakes winners.

Blossomed foaled a full brother to Awesome Result in 2022 for her final foal.

Justify is the sire of eight worldwide stakes winners in 2024 with 23 stakes performers led by Grade II winners Storm Boy and Buchu.