Justify to be evaluated for ankle filling

Jul 10, 2018 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

Triple Crown winner Justify will undergo an evaluation after filling was found in his left front ankle, it was announced Tuesday.

'Justify had some filling in his left front ankle a week ago, which subsided in a couple days,' said trainer Bob Baffert in a press release. 'I trained him last week and the filling came back. We want to get him checked out.'

Justify, based at Santa Anita for the last several weeks, had been preparing for a late summer campaign but didn't train in the latter part of last week.

'To go from a maiden winner in February to an undefeated Triple Crown winner in June has been an incredible ride,' said Elliott Walden, WinStar Farm's president/CEO and racing manager. 'He is too special to the owners, our team, and all the fans he has around the world to not be 100 percent healthy. As far as any future plans for him, they will be decided after we get him checked out. He is an amazing horse, and we are blessed by his presence.'

(Coady Photography)