'No timeline' for Justify's first workout back from Triple Crown

The prospect of Justify returning in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational, set for July 29 at Monmouth Park, took a hit Thursday when BloodHorse's Jeremy Balan reported that the Triple Crown winner remains only in light training.

The unbeaten son of Scat Daddy did not go to the track this morning, per Balan, and trainer Bob Baffert said there's "no timeline" in place for a workout. Baffert previously considered breezing Justify this week.

"He lightened up a bit, and we're trying to get a little weight on him," Baffert told BloodHorse. "The only way to get weight back on is to back off a little. I can just tell he needs a little more time."

Justify swept the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes to cap a six-race beginning to his career. All those runs came in a span of just 112 days, with the chestnut becoming the first horse since 1882 to win the Derby without racing as a 2-year-old.

Justify stabled temporarily at Churchill Downs following the Belmont. He has since returned to Baffert's base in Southern California, with the string moving soon from Santa Anita Park to Del Mar, where the meet begins later this month.

If not the Haskell, Saratoga's Travers Stakes on Aug. 25 appears a logical spot. Another Grade 1 race for 3-year-olds, the Pennsylvania Derby, runs on Sept. 22. Baffert won both of those last year with West Coast.

Connections have said that ultimately they'd like to see Justify finish his season in the Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 3 at Churchill.