Charles Church - British, b. 1970
Justify
Oil on canvas
12" x 14"
Signed and inscribed

Despite not making a single start as a 2-year-old, Justify took the racing world by storm. After winning a maiden special weight and an allowance race—in which his odds were 1 to 20—Justify was pointed toward the grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in an attempt to earn enough points to be eligible for the rapidly approaching Kentucky Derby. Justify won the Santa Anita Derby, beating graded stakes winner Bolt d’Oro by three lengths, and earned enough points to be included in the field of 20 starters for the Kentucky Derby. Justify would go on to win the Kentucky Derby by 2 1/2 lengths and become the first horse unraced as a 2-year-old to win the Kentucky Derby since Apollo accomplished the feat in 1882. He went on to win the Preakness Stakes by a half-length and the Belmont by 1 1/2 lengths. By completing the Triple Crown, Justify became just the second horse to win the American Triple Crown with an undefeated record; the other being Seattle Slew, from whom Justify is descended. Other Justify ancestors include Secretariat, Count Fleet, War Admiral, Omaha, and Gallant Fox, all of whom also won the American Triple Crown. He is also a descendant of English Triple Crown winner Nijinsky.