Justify gets a hero's welcome from home crowd at Santa Anita

ARCADIA, Calif. – Justify’s post-Triple Crown celebration tour continued on Saturday with a 15-minute walk to the paddock, racetrack and winner’s circle at Santa Anita before an adoring crowd, most of whom went home with mobile phones filled with photographs.

This was the second consecutive Saturday Justify was shown to his fans. On June 16, Justify was paraded at Churchill Downs.

Saturday, Justify’s every move was recorded by fans after he left trainer Bob Baffert’s stable shortly after 1:30 p.m. He was walked in the shade of the saddling enclosure being led to the picturesque outdoor paddock, where a large audience gathered two and three deep.

Justify went from the paddock to the main track, first in front of the clubhouse – where he received a rousing reception – and then to the winner’s circle for a brief ceremony with Baffert and jockey Mike Smith. Justify was a little antsy at the end of the winner’s circle presentation before he was walked up the stretch and back into the barns.

The brief tour gave fans ample opportunity to see the 13th Triple Crown up close. The day began with a Justify theme. In late morning, jockey Mike Smith signed hundreds of autographs of commemorative posters provided by the track. There were more fans than the 4,000 posters distributed, and more fans sought autographs than time allowed.

Justify was flown to California on June 17 and has had a quiet week, going to the track for a jog on Tuesday, but walking at Baffert’s stable from Wednesday through Saturday. Baffert said after the winner’s circle ceremony that he is no rush to push Justify back into regular training.

“We’re given him a little bit of a break,” Baffert said. “He looked good today. He’s handled everything well. We’ll let him tell us when he’s ready to go again.

“It takes a couple of weeks to see if there is any wear and tear.”

Baffert has not announced specific race plans for Justify, but two Grade 1 stakes for 3-year-olds in coming months – the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on July 29 and the $1.25 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 25 – will be considered.

Saturday’s appearance was Justify’s first trip to the winner’s circle at Santa Anita since the Santa Anita Derby on April 7. The colt won his first three starts here – a maiden race on Feb. 18 and an allowance race with a claiming option on March 11 before the Santa Anita Derby.

Justify races for WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, and Starlight Racing and has earned $3,798,000 by going unbeaten in six starts.

“After the first race, we knew he was something special,” Baffert said. “This is where it all started. I’m proud to be part of this.”

Justify is Baffert’s second Triple Crown winner, three years after American Pharoah swept the series.

“It was a fun three races,” Baffert said of this year’s Triple Crown. “I still can’t believe I was able to train another superstar.”