Restoring Hope

Restoring Hope (foaled May 5, 2015) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in the 2018 Belmont Stakes. He first garnered attention when he won a race in Santa Anita.[1]

Restoring Hope became a subject of debate after competitors in the 2018 Belmont Stakes accused him of blocking other horses in order to help his stablemate, Justify who went on to win the Triple Crown. Restoring Hope was trained by Bob Baffert, who also trained Justify.

Mike Repole who owned two other horses in the race said, "We watched Restoring Hope rush up like he was a quarter horse, make a quick right-hand turn, then turn left, pinned Bravazo on the rail. He looked like a bodyguard making sure nobody got close to Justify."[2]

After the Belmont Stakes, Restoring Hope did not race for half a year, until resurfacing for new trainer John Servis. After Servis' indictment, he was moved to W. Bret Calhoun's barn, for whom he made two starts after ten months away from the track. After another ten months without any races, he then raced once for Wayne M. Catalano, was moved to Kelly J. Breen's barn and finally to Ron Moquett. A few starts later, he was claimed for $10,000 by trainer John Haran. As of 2023, he has been racing for $5,000 at Hawthorne.