Justify settling back in at Santa Anita

ARCADIA, Calif. – Justify had a quiet morning of being walked at trainer Bob Baffert’s stable at Santa Anita on Wednesday.There may be several days like that in the next few weeks for the Triple Crown winner.

With Justify not expected to start until late July at the earliest, Baffert said on Wednesday that the colt will have a slow training schedule for the rest of this month.

“We’ll go easy for the next two weeks off and on,” Baffert said.

Baffert has not announced specific race plans for Justify, but two Grade 1 stakes for 3-year-olds this summer, 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 for him.

Justify arrived at Baffert’s stable from Churchill Downs on Sunday afternoon, greeted by about 150 well-wishers after a police escort from the airport. Tuesday, Justify was galloped on the main track, an exercise he needed, Baffert said.

“He was getting pretty high,” Baffert said. “We’re all good.”

Justify is unbeaten in six starts. Prior to the Triple Crown, Justify won three races at Santa Anita, culminating with a win in the Santa Anita Derby in early April.