Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert talked the talk even before Justify began his Triple Crown quest. He compared the powerful chestnut colt to American Pharoah, who joined racing’s immortals in 2015 by becoming the first horse to complete the historic sweep in 37 years.

Now the time is at hand for undefeated Justify, overpowering in the Kentucky Derby but a shaky survivor in a fog-enveloped Preakness, to walk the walk in the 150th Belmont Stakes on Saturday at Belmont Park.

“I just want to see him run his race,” Baffert said. “If he runs his race, he’s just a superior animal.”

Baffert has repeatedly described American Pharoah the same way. The two horses took extremely different paths to reach the mile-and-a-half Belmont, though. That could make all the difference in the “Test of the Champion” – or it might not matter at all.

American Pharoah gained valuable experience by racing three times as a 2-year-old. Justify exploded onto the national scene by joining Apollo (1882) as the only Derby winners that were unraced at 2.

American Pharoah made four starts as a 3-year-old preceding the Belmont, including a seven-length rout in the slop in the Preakness. Justify makes his sixth start this season in a game of catch-up that began Feb. 18.

“Six races is a lot, but we’ve seen that he thrives on it,” Baffert said. “The way he’s built, you could see he’s just a big, strong, powerful horse.”

Justify is bidding to join Seattle Slew (1977) as the only undefeated Triple Crown champions. He would be the 13th overall winner if he can cope with his third race in five weeks, not to mention the demands preceding that grind.

American Pharoah’s Preakness strongly suggested he was primed for another huge effort in the Belmont, and he delivered a front-running 5 ½-length romp. Justify drew the same gooey surface in the Preakness and barely held off surging Bravazo by half a length, suggesting he might be faltering.

To those working to spoil Justify’s bid, the combination of Justify’s arduous schedule and his unconvincing Preakness offers hope.

“I think he’s very vulnerable,” said Queens native Mike Repole, co-owner of Belmont starters Noble Indy (30-1) and Vino Rosso (8-1) in the 10-horse field.

Justify, the 4-5 favorite, drew the rail. He likes to run on or close to the lead for regular rider Mike Smith. Repole is vowing to have Javier Castellano test him early with burner Noble Indy, a strategy that could set the stage for a rally by Vino Rosso and John Velazquez. Vino Rosso is bred for the marathon distance, and trainer Todd Pletcher, a three-time Belmont winner, has been pointing him toward the final leg of the Triple Crown since last November.

“I can tell you Noble Indy is going to have the lead in this race,” Repole said. “He’s going to make this real exciting for us for a mile. The last half mile, I have no idea.”

Hofburg (9-2) can improve off a troubled seventh in the Derby. Bravazo (8-1) and Tenfold (15-1), third in the Preakness, could threaten again. Gronkowski, named for Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski and a winner of four of six starts in Great Britain, aims to show he is more than a name in his first dirt start. His partying namesake (and entourage) are expected to attend.

In reality, though, the Belmont depends on how much Justify has left.

“If he runs the race he did the last two,” said D. Wayne Lukas, trainer of Bravazo, “it will be very difficult to beat him.”