Answer Summary
The winner of the 2018 Belmont Stakes was Justify, who won by 3 1/2 lengths in 2:28.18 while setting a stakes record for the mile and 3/8 on the dirt. It was Justify’s third Triple Crown victory, making him the 13th Triple Crown winner and the first since American Pharoah in 2015. The race took place on June 9, 2018, at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, before a crowd of 46,270.
2018 Belmont Stakes Full Results
Below is a concise table of the top finishers and key verified details for the 2018 edition of the Belmont Stakes, emphasizing margin, time, and post positions.
| Position | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Final Odds | Margin | Time (mile and 3/8) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Justify | Mike Smith | Bob Baffert | — | Winner | 2:28.18 (stakes record) |
| 2 | Tacitus | Jose Lezcano | William I. Mott | 7.20 | 3/4 length | 2:28.76 |
| 3 | Restoring Hope | Javier Castellano | Todd A. Pletcher | 15.30 | 1 3/4 lengths | 2:28.96 |
| 4 | Bravazo | Luis Saez | Michael R. Matz | 19.90 | 3 1/4 lengths | 2:29.02 |
| 5 | Hofburg | John R. Velazquez | Chad C. Brown | 13.60 | 5 1/4 lengths | 2:29.54 |
| 6 | Monongahela | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Todd A. Pletcher | 24.10 | 7 1/4 lengths | 2:29.74 |
Race Context and Conditions
The 2018 Belmont Stakes was run on June 9, 2018, at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The surface was fast dirt, and the race distance was the traditional mile and 3/8 (9.5 furlongs or about 1910 meters). A crowd of 46,270 attended. Post position 6 (of 12 horses drawn) was assigned to Justify, who broke from an outside post and settled mid-pack before making his move on the far turn. The track was rated fast, which favors early pace and acceleration.
Key Facts and Race Profile
Justify’s victory completed the Triple Crown without racing as a two-year-old, making him the first Triple Crown winner since Seattle Slew (1977) to achieve the feat without a juvenile win. Trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Mike Smith combined for another classic victory following previous successes in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. The 3 1/2 length margin reflected decisive late-run separation, with Tacitus pressing in the final strides but unable to make serious headway.
Notable Details and Comparisons
- Winning Time: 2:28.18 for 1 3/8 miles on dirt, a stakes record at the time.
- Winning Margin: 3 1/2 lengths, indicating clear separation from the runner-up.
- Winning Breeder: China Horse Club, Starlight Racing, & Head of Plains Partners.
- Owner: China Horse Club, Starlight Racing, Head of Plains Partners, & WinStar Farm.
- Post Position Draw: Randomly drawn, with post 6 on the outside.
- Purse Allocation: Winner received the majority of the $1 million graded stakes purse.
Significance Within the Triple Crown Sequence
The 2018 Belmont Stakes is best understood as the concluding leg of the Triple Crown after Justify won the Kentucky Derby (Grade I) and the Preakness Stakes (Grade I) earlier that spring. In contrast to many-depth chart fillers, Justify maintained a consistent positional pattern across all three races, under the guidance of Bob Baffert, and was lightly raced as a two-year-old. The win preserved the modern-era Triple Crown narrative and reinforced Baffert’s reputation for preparing multiple classic winners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are concise answers to commonly asked questions about the 2018 Belmont Stakes winner and its context.
- Who won the 2018 Belmont Stakes? Justify, ridden by Mike Smith for trainer Bob Baffert, won by 3 1/2 lengths in 2:28.18.
- Was the 2018 Belmont Stakes a stakes record? Yes, the winning time of 2:28.18 set a stakes record for the mile and 3/8 on dirt at Belmont Park.
- Did Justify race as a two-year-old? No, Justify did not race at age two, making his Triple Crown unique among modern winners.
- What was the margin of victory? Justify won by 3 1/2 lengths over Tacitus.
- Who bred and owned Justify?