Justify Settling in at Ashford Stud

Triple Crown winner Justify has some cosmic connection to rain. 

The winner of the wettest Kentucky Derby (G1) on record and of a sloppy Preakness Stakes (G1) arrived Sept. 17 in a steady drizzle at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky., where he'll settle in for stud duty as the barnmate of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah .

"It's especially fitting because we're Irish," joked Adrian Wallace, with nominations sales at Ashford, the American branch of Coolmore's breeding operations. "We're used to this."

The impressive chestnut colt's remarkable victory in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) only 75 days after breaking his maiden at Santa Anita Park, might have in itself been enough to attract Ashford's attention as a stallion prospect. But it would actually be Justify's sire Scat Daddy that created the most compelling reason for Ashford to begin negotiating in earnest following the Derby.

Scat Daddy, a son of the champion Johannesburg who the Coolmore associates raced, was having his best year at stud in 2015 with 36 black-type winners when he died suddenly at Ashford Dec. 14, 2015. 

"Scat Daddy died at only 11 years. It was a huge loss," Wallace said. "What he achieved in a very short period of time is quite remarkable. Justify looks to be an able replacement. He is a very, very classy horse. He had a stellar career, an undefeated Triple Crown winner in 112 days. To have him come here to the same farm where American Pharoah stands is a huge honor to us and a huge responsibility to this industry—one that we don't take lightly."

Similar to a strategy followed with American Pharoah, Justify is expected to be bred to a variety of quality mares from both dirt and turf pedigrees. 

"We love these brilliant American classic horses, they were the cornerstone on which my grandfather built Ballydoyle," said M.V. Magnier, referring to the legendary trainer Vincent O'Brien. "American Pharoah and Justify were world-class horses and will be remembered as all-time greats. We feel they can both sire progeny capable of competing at the highest level around the world, whether it be turf or dirt. It's exciting times!"

Wallace added that Ashford expects to breed 40-50 mares to Justify, whose stud fee is expected to be announced soon.

"If we breed him to good Galileo mares and good Montjeu and Danehill mares, he's got a lot of options for us," he said. "The book will be stellar. I think he'll be supported by some of the best international breeders around."

Ashford would not divulge the value of the breeding rights deal, saying only that it was a private deal. ESPN and other media outlets have reported the deal might be worth up to $75 million. Justify was purchased as a yearling from Glennwood Farm for $500,000 by China Horse Club and WinStar Farm's Maverick Racing entity. WinStar and China Horse Club raced the colt initially with SF Racing, which retained breeding rights to the colt but later sold its share for racing purposes to Head of Plains Partners and Starlight Racing.

At Ashford to meet Justify following a short ride from WinStar Farm was trainer Bob Baffert and Justify's breeders John Gunther and his daughter, Tanya. The Gunthers, who own Glennwood, brought all their farm employees to see the star that they all had a hand in raising.

"It is a huge deal for us," said Tanya Gunther, who planned the mating of their Ghostzapper  mare Stage Magic with Scat Daddy. "We are a small operation, with 25-30 mares, so to have bred a Triple Crown winner is amazing for everyone at the farm. The mare was bred in this shed, and we feel like he's coming home."

Gunther said she already has a couple mares in mind to breed to Justify, which she has been mulling since he first stepped onto a racetrack.

"Seeing (Scat Daddy's progeny) performing on dirt and turf didn't deter the mating, which is interesting regardless," said Gunther "We try to breed good racehorses. We are just excited to see Scat Daddy take off again. We hope Justify can carry on where he left off. It would be an amazing story."

Baffert said while it is tough to predict a young stallion's success, he believes the blend of dirt and turf in Justify's pedigree might give him an advantage.

"The muscle on him is all over, the power; usually a horse built like him doesn't run very far, but he carries it," Baffert said, noting that most horses can give their best over a quarter-mile, but Justify gave that same effort over five-eighths. "If you watch his Kentucky Derby, you don't go any faster than that. I kept expecting it to end badly, but he kept catching gears. He is a freaky kind of horse, but he has the pedigree to back it up."

Ashford is the fourth farm to stand multiple American Triple Crown winners at stud. Claiborne Farm stood Gallant Fox, Omaha, and Secretariat, while Calumet Farm stood Whirlaway and Citation, and Spendthrift Farm started Seattle Slew's stud career and stood Affirmed.