Racing gets 13th Triple Crown with Justify

Justify defied all the odds on his way to achieving Triple Crown immortality.

The late bloomer won the Belmont Stakes by 1¾ lengths on Saturday, June 9, 2018 giving the sport its 13th Triple Crown champion. American Pharoah ended a 37-year drought in 2015 and now just four years later, racing is celebrating another sweep of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont.

An exercise rider guides a thoroughbred onto the track for a workout in the fog at Belmont Park, Tuesday, June 5, 2018, in Elmont, N.Y. Justify will attempt to become the 13th Triple Crown winner when he runs in the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race on Saturday.(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Belmont Stakes hopeful Hofburg plays with his halter while being bathed after a workout at Belmont Park, Wednesday, June 6, 2018, in Elmont, N.Y. Hofburg is one of 10 horses racing in the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race on Saturday. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

A groom bathes Belmont Stakes hopeful Gronkowski after a workout at Belmont Park, Wednesday, June 6, 2018, in Elmont, N.Y. Gronkowski is one of 10 horses racing in the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race on Saturday. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

A thoroughbred trots along the track during a workout at Belmont Park, Thursday, June 7, 2018, in Elmont, N.Y. Justify will attempt to become the 13th Triple Crown winner when he races in the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race on Saturday. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Belmont Stakes hopeful Gronkowski is bathed after a workout at Belmont Park, Tuesday, June 5, 2018, in Elmont, N.Y. Gronkowski is one of 10 horses racing in the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race on Saturday. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

An exercise rider gallops a thoroughbred around the track during a workout at Belmont Park, Tuesday, June 5, 2018, in Elmont, N.Y. Justify will attempt to become the 13th Triple Crown winner when he runs in the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race on Saturday. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

A thoroughbred, its trainer and exercise rider are reflected in a mud puddle as they walk back to the stable after a workout at Belmont Park, Tuesday, June 5, 2018, in Elmont, N.Y. Justify will attempt to become the 13th Triple Crown winner when he runs in the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race on Saturday. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Horse racing fans walk through the grandstand before the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race, Saturday, June 9, 2018, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Horse racing spectators take a break from festivities before the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race, Saturday, June 9, 2018, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

A horse racing fan walks the grounds at Belmont Park before the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race, Saturday, June 9, 2018, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

A groom bathes a thoroughbred after a workout at Belmont Park, Tuesday, June 5, 2018, in Elmont, N.Y. Justify will attempt to become the 13th Triple Crown winner when he runs in the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race on Saturday. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

A thoroughbred walks off the track after a race before the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race, Saturday, June 9, 2018, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Justify, right, with jockey Mike Smith, leads the pack in the final turn in the 1 1/2 mile Belmont Stakes horse race Saturday, June 9, 2018, at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. Justify won the race and the Triple Crown. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Jockey Mike Smith reacts after guiding Justify to win the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race and the Triple Crown, Saturday, June 9, 2018, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Exercise riders take thoroughbreds onto the track for workouts at Belmont Park, Wednesday, June 6, 2018, in Elmont, N.Y. The 150th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race is on Saturday. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

---

This gallery was curated by Courtney Dittmar, Don King and Patrick Sison in New York.

For more, visit AP news