Baffert pleased with Justify’s ‘smooth’ workout

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert liked everything he saw when undefeated Triple Crown threat Justify worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 on Monday at Churchill Downs.

“It went smooth. He relaxed nice,” Baffert said.

Track clockers caught Justify in 12.8 seconds through the first eighth of a mile, 24.8 for the quarter mile, 37 for three-eighths of a mile and 48.8 for a half mile. He galloped out threequarters of a mile in 1:13.6 seconds for jockey Martin Garcia.

The drill stood out in contrast to the week before, when f ive-for-f ive Justify drilled four furlongs in a crisp 46 4/5 seconds as he prepped for the 150th Belmont Stakes on Saturday.

“Last time, he was a little bit fresh, I think, and he really wanted to do a little bit more,” Baffert said. “But he came back, and Martin was happy with him. He said he didn’t take a deep breath. All seems good.”

Restoring Hope, Baffert’s other expected Belmont starter, worked three-quarters of a mile in 1:13 under jockey Florent Geroux. Restoring Hope ran third in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct before a dismal 12th-place finish in the Pay Day Mile, part of the Kentucky Derby undercard.

“He went a little faster, but I wanted to do a little bit more with him because he hasn’t run in a while,” Baffert said. “So we let him work a little harder, but he handled it well.”

Geroux will ride Restoring Hope in the Belmont. Queen Elizabeth II will be represented at Belmont Park on Friday when Call To Mind, a 4-year-old she bred and owns, competes in the $400,000 Belmont Gold Cup Invitational. The colt will be trying 2 miles for the first time.

Stamina hardly appears to be an issue. His last four starts ranged in distance from 1 ½ to 1 ⁷/₈ miles. He took third in the Yorkshire Cup on May 18 at York for trainer William Haggas. Haggas’ assistant, Harry

Eustace, accompanied Call To Mind to New York.

“We’re very privileged to train for her Majesty,” said Eustace. “She is very passionate about her horses and racing.”

Baffert will throw out the first pitch before the Mets play the Orioles on Tuesday night at Citi Field following the draw for post positions for the Belmont Stakes. Baffert also trained American Pharoah when he became the 12th Triple Crown champion, in 2015.