Justify possible for Saturday night parade

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Triple Crown winner Justify is scheduled to be out of the public eye for the foreseeable future – with the highly possible exception of a parade between races Saturday night at Churchill Downs.

Justify arrived at Churchill at 1:25 p.m. Monday following a flight from New York, where on Saturday the colt attained immortality by winning the Belmont Stakes and becoming the 13th Triple Crown winner. He is just the second to complete the sweep while unbeaten, following Seattle Slew (1977).

Churchill officials said Monday they did not yet have confirmation of permission from Bob Baffert for Justify to be paraded – although they were very much hoping it will happen. Three years ago, Baffert allowed his first Triple Crown winner, American Pharoah, to be paraded during a Downs After Dark card highlighted by the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap, much to the delight of thousands of ontrack fans. This year, the Foster will be part of a 90-minute telecast (8:30-10 p.m. Eastern) on the NBC Sport Network.

Baffert and some of the other Justify connections, including representatives of co-owner WinStar Farm, already are scheduled to be presented the engraved trophies from the colt’s victory in the May 5 Kentucky Derby. That between-races ceremony has become a staple of the annual Foster night.

Whether or not the parade happens, Justify is tentatively scheduled to return to Baffert’s primary base at Santa Anita in Southern California by air on Sunday. Since shortly before the Derby, and except for his successful trips to the Preakness and Belmont, the colt has been stabled in Barn 33 on the Churchill backstretch.