Justify might be paraded

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 Sports 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 betweenraces 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.

Single 6 carryover: $450,840

Two turf allowances will anchor an eight-race Thursday program that opens another four-day race week at Churchill Downs. Both are part of the Single 6, which will start with $450,840 in a jackpot reserved for a solo winning ticket.

Race 7 is the nominal feature, with no more than eight fillies and mares going a mile under a two-other-than condition. Dagney’s Warrior, looking for a third straight victory, all for trainer Mike Tomlinson and jockey Adam Beschizza, is the morning-line favorite in a 10-horse field that includes two main track only designees.

The Single 6 starts with the other allowance (race 3), a $59,500 first-level race at 1 1/8 miles. Ego Trip is a lukewarm morning-line choice in a wellmatched field of 3-year-olds and upward.

First post Thursday is 5 p.m. Eastern, with the 20-cent Single 6 starting at 5:58 and spanning races 3-8.

As of Monday, Churchill had not yet announced whether another partial forceout of the Single 6 jackpot will be held in conjunction with the big Stephen Foster card Saturday night, as the track opted to do June 2, when a $300,000 forceout enticed $1.3 million in new handle.

Firster evokes fond memories

Tom’s Last General, a 2-yearold first-time starter in the fourth race Thursday, is named in honor of the late Tom McCarthy, whose underdog story leading into the 2009 Kentucky Derby was one of the best of the last decade.

Tom’s Last General was sired by General Quarters, who won the 2009 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland and 2010 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill for McCarthy, a retired high school teacher and principal who had trained parttime for many years. McCarthy died in July 2016, and General Quarters was sold later that year to interests in Turkey, where he now stands.

Tom’s Last General was bred and owned in partnerships that include McCarthy’s two sons, Tom and Tim, as well as his longtime friend and assistant Jerry Hills.

Red Ruby to Del Oaks

Trainer Kellyn Gorder said the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks on July 7 at Delaware Park is the likely next start for Red Ruby, who stamped herself as one of the rising stars in the 3-year-old filly division with a 4 3/4-length romp in the May 18 Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico.

Red Ruby was scheduled to have her first breeze soon at Keeneland in training toward the 1 1/16-mile Delaware Oaks. Red Ruby missed the Kentucky Oaks when still not quite ready following a minor injury.

Asmussen, Hernandez on top

Steve Asmussen continues to edge clear atop the local trainer standings as the Hall of Fame trainer won three more races here last weekend, including his meet-leading fifth with a 2-year-old on Sunday. Into Thursday, Asmussen leads with 19 wins, followed by Kenny McPeek with 14.

Among jockeys, Brian Hernandez Jr. leads by a 35-30 count over Corey Lanerie.