Justify won the Preakness on Saturday to capture the second leg of the triple crown, and jockey Mike Smith says he did so despite being tired.
Smith was interviewed by NBC after the race and was asked whether Justify was tired or waiting on competition.
“A little of both,” Smith said. “He got a little tired. This is the hardest race that he’s had. But he was also waiting on the competition — the track was kind of narrow. But it was a good kind of tired. It’s the kind of tired that I’m hoping will help moving forward.”
If Justify was able to win the Preakness while tired and battling adversity, that speaks to the horse’s toughness. However, it might be a bad omen for the Belmont Stakes, which is a longer race.
