What a ride itB次元官网网址檚 been for Canadian John Gunther and Glennwood Farm.

Justify captured the Belmont Stakes by 1 3/4 lengths Saturday to become just the 13th U.S. Triple Crown champion and second since 1978. The majestic chestnut colt was bred at Glennwood Farm in Versailles, Ky., which is owned by Gunther and run by his daughter, Tanya.

B次元官网网址淲hat an amazing experience, my heart was pounding and I had to sit down,B次元官网网址� said Gunther, who witnessed JustifyB次元官网网址檚 historic run at Belmont Park. B次元官网网址淓verybody was in tears, the staff at Glennwood, my daughter and even myself.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just incredible to consider the horseB次元官网网址檚 first start was Feb. 18. What heB次元官网网址檚 accomplished in such a short time is just really incredible, I just donB次元官网网址檛 know what else to say.B次元官网网址�

It was Tanya Gunther who paired JustifyB次元官网网址檚 sire (Scat Daddy) and mare (Stage Magic). John Gunther credits his daughterB次元官网网址檚 encyclopedic understanding of blood-lines for creating the champion thoroughbred.

B次元官网网址淭his means everything to Glennwood,B次元官网网址� said John Gunther. B次元官网网址漌eB次元官网网址檙e a small, petite farm and now weB次元官网网址檙e going to be recognized around the world.

B次元官网网址淎ny time weB次元官网网址檙e consigning yearlings weB次元官网网址檙e going to get people certainly taking a second look at our consignments when we do sell yearlings. WeB次元官网网址檝e been able to brand something very special in what weB次元官网网址檝e accomplished.B次元官网网址�

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The Gunthers knew shortly after JustifyB次元官网网址檚 birth he was something special. In fact, John Gunther, of Langley, B.C., was so convinced Justify would win the Triple Crown he boldly predicted the sweep long before the horseB次元官网网址檚 Kentucky Derby win last month.

B次元官网网址淲hatB次元官网网址檚 most impressive about him is his mental attitude, nothing upsets him at all,B次元官网网址� Gunther said. B次元官网网址淵ou look at 170,000 people yelling and screaming at the Kentucky Derby and he doesnB次元官网网址檛 even turn a hair.

B次元官网网址淲hen we saw him in the paddock (Saturday), he just looked so typically fantastic. He even looked like he added a few pounds from the Preakness, I mean, this horse just recovers so amazingly quick.B次元官网网址�

At 6-0, Justify joins the legendary Seattle Slew (1977) as the only two undefeated Triple Crown winners. Justify is also the first horse to register the sweep without racing as a two-year-old due to a pulled muscle.

JustifyB次元官网网址檚 pedigree features plenty of Canadian content.

Scat DaddyB次元官网网址檚 bloodlines include Canadian-breds Nijinsky (an English Triple Crown champion), Northern Dancer and Storm Bird. Stage MagicB次元官网网址檚 genealogy features Canadian Hall of Famer Awesome Again B次元官网网址� the 1997 QueenB次元官网网址檚 Plate and 1998 BreedersB次元官网网址� Cup Classic champion B次元官网网址� and Canadian-breds Deputy Minister, Vice Regent and Mint Copy.

By winning the Derby, Justify broke the dreaded Apollo Curse, becoming the first horse to win that race after not starting as a two-year-old since Apollo did in 1882.

Justify was a US$500,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by China Horse Club and Maverick Racing. He earned $800,000 for winning the Belmont, boosting his career total to almost $3.8 million.

JustifyB次元官网网址檚 quick ascent to North American prominence will undoubtedly put pressure on Glennwood to produce another Triple Crown contender. But itB次元官网网址檚 a challenge Gunther welcomes.

B次元官网网址淭o achieve a result like this, how do you beat it?B次元官网网址漢e said. B次元官网网址淏ut youB次元官网网址檝e got to keep doing it just to try it again

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e just got to keep working and working and working and just try to produce more graded stakes winners.B次元官网网址�

Justify joins a long list of champions Glennwood has bred or co-bred including First Samurai (Grade 1 winner, $915,075 earned); Mo Town (co-bred, Grade 1 winner); My Miss Sophia (second 2014 Kentucky Oaks); Stay Thirsty (co-bred, Grade 1 winner, $1.936 million); Stevie Wonderboy (co-bred, 2005 BreedersB次元官网网址� Cup Juvenile champion, $1.059 million); and Tamarkuz (2016 BreedersB次元官网网址� Cup dirt mile winner, $1.84 million).

And Gunther might have to look no further than his farm for the next Justify. The Triple Crown winnerB次元官网网址檚 yet unnamed half-brother is a yearling at Glennwood and is the spitting image of his older sibling.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 as impressive as Justify was as a yearling,B次元官网网址� Gunther said. B次元官网网址淲hen the half-brother was foaled he was lying in the stall and his legs were so long that I said to Tanya, B次元官网网址榃ell, hereB次元官网网址檚 one we canB次元官网网址檛 sell.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 even realize it was JustifyB次元官网网址檚 half-brother and it was Stage Magic whoB次元官网网址檇 had the foal.B次元官网网址�

That goes against the traditional breeding business practice of selling the yearlings to help fund their operation. But Gunther opted to follow his gut with this decision, which came long before JustifyB次元官网网址檚 emergence as a champion racehorse.

B次元官网网址淚f he can run like Justify or almost as good, that would do it,B次元官网网址� Gunther said. B次元官网网址滻f he could win a graded race it would be unbelievable.B次元官网网址�

Especially considering another Stage Magic offspring, The Lieutenant, won a Grade III race last month, giving the mare two recent graded states winners.

B次元官网网址淭hat mare is so special,B次元官网网址� Gunther said. B次元官网网址淪he really puts everything into her foals.B次元官网网址�

Gunther guesses JustifyB次元官网网址檚 next race will be $1.25-million Grade 1 Travers Stakes on Aug. 25 at Saratoga, with an eventual appearance at the BreederB次元官网网址檚 Cup. But with the Triple Crown in tow, Gunther believes the pressure is off Justify.

B次元官网网址淣o more pressure,B次元官网网址� Gunther said. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 done everything I or anyone could dream of.B次元官网网址�

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press

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