Belmont Stakes 2018 Payout: Prize Money Purse and Triple Crown Order of Finish

Justify achieved history Saturday in the Belmont Stakes, becoming the 13th horse to win the Triple Crown.

The result was never in doubt, with Justify going wire-to-wire in the victory. He came firing out of the gates, and no horse could touch him over the 1 ½-mile race.

Below are the top three finishers and the race payouts:

2018 Belmont Stakes Results (via NBC Broadcast)

Horse (Post, Jockey, Trainer)

1. Justify (1, Mike Smith, Bob Baffert) Payout: $800,000

2. Gronkowski (6, Jose Ortiz, Chad Brown) Payout: $280,000

3. Hofburg (4, Irad Ortiz, William I. Mott) Payout: $150,000

2018 Belmont Stakes Payouts (via NBC Broadcast)

1st: Justify 4-5 (Win: $3.60; Place: $3.50; Show: $2.80)

2nd: Gronkowski 24-1 (Place: $13.80; Show: $7.00)

3rd: Hofburg 5-1 (Show: $3.70)

$2 Exacta (1-6): $89.00

$1 Trifecta (1-6-4): $229.74

$1 Superfecta (1-6-4-8): $1,051.50

Although American Pharoah captured the Triple Crown in 2015, the 37-year gap between American Pharoah and Affirmed's triumph in 1978 was a testament to how difficult the feat is.

Justify made it look easy, though. He pulled away from the field at the Kentucky Derby and battled a sloppy track at the Preakness Stakes to come out on top. His win at Pimlico Race Course did, however, leave some questioning whether fatigue would become an issue at Belmont Park. Bravazo was closing in as both horses crossed the finish line.

Not only was this Justify's third race in a little over a month, but the competition was also far stiffer than he encountered at the Preakness. Bravazo, Vino Rosso and Hofburg all looked like serious challengers to Justify, and Bravazo was the only one of the three who ran at Pimlico.

That all adds to the greatness of Justify's effort, and social media was buzzing Saturday:

Not long ago, California Chrome co-owner Steve Coburn questioned whether another horse would ever win the Triple Crown again. Coburn took issue with how horses could take a break to be more rested for the Belmont Stakes. While Coburn apologized for his comments, some echoed his general argument that racing officials should do more to ease the workload on horses pursuing a Triple Crown.

Now that American Pharoah and Justify have each achieved the feat in the space of four years, some may ponder whether the Triple Crown will start to lose luster.

The massive drought following Affirmed's win helped give the Triple Crown more prestige and build anticipation with each year. It's easy to see the pendulum shifting so far to the other end that interest begins to wane slightly.

But that conversation will be of little concern to Justify, jockey Mike Smith or trainer Bob Baffert. Together, they delivered a series of performances that won't soon be forgotten.