Fresh from siring a Group I winning juvenile filly in France last weekend, Coolmore’s outstanding young sire Justify spread his wings a little further when undefeated US bred filly Hard to Justify won the Group II Miss Grillo Stakes (1 1/16th m) at Belmont on the grass to secure her place in the Breeders Cup.
Trained by Chad Brown for Wise Racing, Hard to Justify led for home and was super strong to the line winning by half a length and has now won two from two.
“She really engaged and switched gears. From there, I thought she got the job done,” said winning rider Flavien Prat.
The victory gives connections a fees-paid berth into the Group I Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf next month at Santa Anita.
A $190,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, Hard to Justify is the second winner from Group III placed Quality Road mare Instant Reflex, a grand-daughter of stakes-winner Slow Down with Group I Newmarket July Cup winning sprinter Starman also on the page.
Hard to Justify is the 19th stakes-winner for Justify, who was Australia’s leading first crop sire last season by earnings.
Justify is running at 9.5% SW to runner with his oldest progeny three year-olds which marks him potentially as a seriously good stallion for the future and he is priced this spring at $77,000.
