Triple Crown winner Justify back to Churchill, 'taking it easy'

A special water cannon welcome from the Louisville International Airport’s Department of Public Safety greeted Justify, and a TV news helicopter followed the Triple Crown winner in his brief journey from the tarmac to trainer Bob Baffert’s Barn 33 on the Churchill Downs backside.

There, just past 1:25 p.m. ET Monday, the colt settled into his temporary Kentucky home.

Unbeaten in his six races, Justify is expected to walk the shed row for at least a few days under supervision by assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes. The colt is then scheduled to return to Baffert’s West Coast base on Sunday.

“We have a lot of fans here, and we’re always really happy to come back here,” Barnes said of Louisville. “…What’s next? They haven’t decided. Next is hopefully a parade.”

Yes, there’s a possibility Justify could appear for fans Saturday during Churchill’s “Downs After Dark” race card just as American Pharoah did after his Triple Crown sweep three years ago. NBC Sports Network will broadcast from 8:30-10 p.m. ET with Churchill running its Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap, a “Win and You’re In” race toward the Breeders’ Cup Classic in November.

Aside from that party, “He’ll probably be just taking it easy,” Barnes said. “He’ll walk at least the next two to three days — as long as he’ll allow us to — and then we’ll see which direction we’ll head as far as training.”

The first time Justify unloaded at Churchill Downs, days before the Kentucky Derby, the colt walked immediately into the barn, appearing a handful. This time, Barnes circled Justify in front of reporters and their cameras.

The Triple Crown winner’s learning to relish the spotlight.

“I think American Pharoah enjoyed it a little bit more than Justify,” Barnes said. “He’s just a little…stronger than what American Pharoah was. At the end of the day, he still loves the cameras.”

Barnes hesitated to compare the Baffert horses before last Saturday’s Belmont Stakes but said now that they’re both Triple Crown winners, “There’s really not much difference.”

That’s even with a backdrop of the lingering conversation about the role played in the Belmont by Restoring Hope, who Barnes also oversaw up to the race from Churchill Downs. Rival owner Mike Repole accused connections of using the horse as interference, allowing Justify an easier trip in the mile and a half feature.

“I really have no comment to that,” Barnes said. “Those were his comments, probably said in the heat of the moment. I didn’t see it that way. The best horse won.”