JUSTIFY BACK AT CHURCHILL AS FANS BASK IN TRIPLE CROWN WIN Mets release Gonzalez, will call up Smith
Triple Crown winner Justify returned to Churchill Downs for a little rest Monday, greeted by camera-clicking fans intent on getting a shot of horse racing’s newest superstar.
A crowd watched the chestnut colt with a white blaze exit a van after a midday flight from Islip, New York.
Assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes walked Justify outside Barn 33. He said the horse traveled well and will be “just taking it easy” for a few days before this weekend’s celebration and his return to California. “He’ll walk at least the next three days, as long as he’ll allow us to,” Barnes said. “Then we’ll see which direction we need to head as far as training.”
Justify became the 13th Triple Crown champion with Saturday’s 1 3/4-length victory in the Belmont Stakes that improved him to 6-0 lifetime.
— Associated Press
Looking to spark their stagnant lineup, the New York Mets are making a change at first base.
Slumping veteran Adrian Gonzalez was released following a 2-0 victory over the Yankees on Sunday night, and the Mets will recall Dominic Smith from Triple-A Las Vegas today when they begin a 10-game road trip in Atlanta.
The 36-year-old Gonzalez, who struck out in all three at-bats Sunday, hit .237 with six home runs and 26 RBIs for the Mets. The five-time AllStar was signed for the major league minimum during the offseason after struggling with a bad back last year with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Mets also announced they plan to call up utilityman Ty Kelly from Triple-A on Tuesday. Reserve catcher Jose Lobaton will be designated for assignment.
Smith, who turns 23 this week, was batting .260 with two homers and 25 RBIs at Las Vegas. Drafted 11th overall out of high school in 2013, the touted prospect scuffled in the majors as a rookie last season, hitting .198 with nine homers, 26 RBI and a .658 OPS in 49 games.
He slimmed down over the winter and came to spring training this year with a chance to compete for the starting job at first base. But he was disciplined early in camp for arriving late one day and then he strained a quad, keeping him out of the lineup for most of the spring.