Arizona native brings home second Triple Crown victory in 4 years

PHOENIX — An Arizona native made history Saturday as he took home his second Triple Crown victory in four years.

Trainer Bob Baffert, a Nogales native, competed with Justify, a strapping chestnut colt who completed the series sweep on Saturday in the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes in Elmont, New York.

Baffert won his first Triple Crown in 2015 with American Pharoah, ending a 37-year drought.

And now, the white-haired trainer saddled a colt to a sweep of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont.

Justify becomes racing’s 13th Triple Crown winner and second in four years.

The chestnut colt led all the way to win the Belmont Stakes by 1¾ lengths on Saturday.

At 52, Mike Smith is the oldest jockey to win the Triple Crown.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow @KTAR923