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AP
Justify, the winner of the Triple Crown retired this Wednesday from the tracks due to the presence of liquid at the ankle of the left front leg.
Coach Bob Baffert and the Justify owners indicated that preventative measures regarding the health condition of the horse's ankle prevented him from predicting whether he would be in good health this autumn.
"It does not respond fast enough for the fall," Baffert said. "We all wanted to see Justify run again, but ultimately it's my responsibility to make sure it's in perfect shape."
Justify's goal was to run in a major competition this summer, perhaps the Travers Stakes in Saratoga and heading for the Breeders Cup Classic, with a $ 5 million purse, the November 3 at Churchill Downs. Instead, he was removed from training a few days ago because of ankle swelling.
"It's a bad time for a fresh start in 2018, and so we have to pull it off." WinStar Farm co-owner of Justify. "As (the winner of the 2015 Triple Crown) American Pharoah, we can not take the risk of competing with Justify at the age of four.We all wanted him to finish his career in the classic Breeders & Cup, but he could not. "
Justify won the six races in which he competed, becoming the first horse since Apollo in 1882 to win the Kentucky Derby without having participated at the age of two years. He won the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes to become the 13th winner of the Triple Crown and the second in the last four years, joining the American Pharoah of Baffert.
"There has never been a moment when I rode it to win," said jockey Mike Smith. "No horse could run with him without sacrificing himself, and no horse could reach him."
In addition to the Triple Crown, Justify won the Santa Anita Derby and retired with gains of nearly $ 3.8 million.
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