Burger King Back With Baffert For Justify's Triple Crown At Belmont

Burger King paid $200,000 to have its mascot in Baffert's box for the '15 raceGETTY IMAGES

Burger King partnered with trainer Bob Baffert ahead Justify's Triple Crown win in the Belmont Stakes, and just as in '15 with American Pharoah, Baffert watched the race "standing alongside the fast-food restaurant’s big-headed mascot," according to Dana O'Neil of THE ATHLETIC. Baffert said, “The king is back! F- – -ing A!” (THEATHLETIC.com, 6/9). Before the race, Baffert said, "I brought back the Burger King -- The King is back. I invited him back, We need that good karma" ("150th Belmont Stakes," NBC, 6/9). In Louisville, Justin Sayers wrote just like in '15, it was "likely for a good cause." Burger King "paid $200,000 to have the mascot in the box" in '15. The money "was given to charity, with part of the donation going to thoroughbred aftercare and Permanent Disabled Jockey Fund" (COURIER-JOURNAL.com, 6/9).