Triple Crown hopeful Justify drawn in stall one for Belmont challenge

Bob Baffert's Justify has been drawn in stall one for Saturday's Belmont Stakes in which he will attempt to emulate greats such as American Pharoah and Secretariat and win the Triple Crown.

The son of Scat Daddy, who is 4-5 favourite for the $1.5 million contest with bet365 despite drawing the inside stall, will face nine rivals who feature only two from the Preakness Stakes last month.

Baffert, who will also run Giant's Causeway colt Restoring Hope, was philosophical about the draw and told DRF.com: “I never do like to draw the rail. My horses seem to live in it. We have it, can’t change it, we have to deal with it.”

Justify, who only began his career in February, is unbeaten in five starts, including in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, and if successful at Belmont Park, will become the first Triple Crown winner not to have raced as a two-year-old.

The former British-trained Gronkowski, who moved to Chad Brown from Jeremy Noseda's yard in Newmarket last month, has been drawn in stall six.

Belmont Stakes draw (current odds)

1 Justify (4-5)
2 Free Drop Billy (30-1)
3 Bravazo (8-1)
4 Hofburg (9-2)
5 Restoring Hope (30-1)
6 Gronkowski (12-1)
7 Tenfold (12-1)
8 Vino Rosso (8-1)
9 Noble Indy (30-1)
10 Blended Citizen (15-1)

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