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By Matthew Harrington

It was never in doubt, the morning favorite Justify has won the Belmont Stakes and subsequently the Triple Crown. With the win at Belmont, Justify became the 13th Triple Crown winner all-time, winning handedly in the rain at the Kentucky Derby and taking the Preakness Stakes through a heavy fog. The Chestnut thoroughbred is the first Triple Crown winner since American Pharaoh in 2015, and only the second since Affirmed accomplished the feat in 1978.

Justify, the 4-5 favorite despite the longer 1 1/4 race, enters the conversation with Seattle Slew historically. Arguably the greatest horse in racing history, Seattle Slew is the only horse to have gone undefeated in his run to the crown in 1977. Justify, the horse to break Apollo’s Curse at the derby, now has gone a perfect 6-0 after not racing st all as a two-year-old.

For trainer Bob Baffert, Saturday’s race makes him the second trainer ever to win two Triple Crowns along with James Fitzsimmons (Gallant Fox, Omaha). He is Baffert also trained American Pharaoh, his first Triple Crown winner. He’s had a horse looking for the trifecta at Belmont Park 5 times.

Justify jockey Mike Smith is already in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame for winning an astounding 26 Breeder’s Cups. He now can add Triple Crown to his resume. It’s his third win in the Belmont, having won the third jewel of the Triple Crown in 2010 and 2013. Prior to this year, he’d won the Kentucky Derby in 2005 and the Preakness in 1993.

The Winstar farms livery Smith donned at Churchill Downs and Plimico was gone Saturday, superstitions be dammed. Instead, the red silks with stars of the China Horse Club were in the winner’s circle. The horse is owned by a group of investors with a rotating schedule for the dressage.