G1 Breeder’s Cup Double for Justify
Triple Crown hero Justify made his presence felt at the Breeder’s Cup meeting at Santa Anita on Friday with his outstanding juvenile fillies Just FYI (2f Justify x Star Act, by Street Cry) and Hard to Justify (2f Justify x Instant Reflex, by Quality Road) winning both the Group I Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Filly (1 and1/16th m) and Turf Juvenile Filly (1m).
Trained by Bill Mott for owner / breeder George Krikorian, Just FYI made it three wins in as many starts when scoring a neck victory under Junior Alvarado.
"By the half-mile pole I was excited. I knew what I had under me," Alvarado said.
"But I had to respect (Tamara). She's a very nice filly, too. At that point I thought I had a good chance at it. Right when I turned for home and I asked her, she took off very nicely and held off all the way to the wire."
Just FYI is the best of three winners from stakes-placed Street Cry mare Star Act, a daughter of dual Group I winning mare Starrer, a half-sister to triple Group I winner Stellar Jayne.
Already a Group I winner, Just F Y I is the first Breeders' Cup winner for Justify, who didn't have to wait long for his second when the Chad Brown trained Hard to Justify won the Juvenile Fillies Turf.
She also made it three wins from three starts when scoring a half length win.
A $190,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, Hard to Justify is the second winner from Group III placed Quality Road mare Instant Reflex, a grand-daughter of stakes-winner Slow Down with Group I Newmarket July Cup winning sprinter Starman also on the page.
She was a record sixth winner of the race for Chad Brown, who said it was a simple formula.
"Good horses, good clients and an amazing team," Brown said.
"It's remarkable that many of the team from the first one to the sixth one are still here. She's a fighter and it's so rewarding to deliver this to the owners."
Hard to Justify is the sixth Group I winner this year for Justify, who is running at 10.2% stakes-winner to runner!