Kentucky Derby (G1) hopeful QUALITY ROAD (Elusive Quality) was in fine form
Saturday morning, one day after turning in a bullet six-furlong work on Belmont
Park’s training track.
“He’s fine, everything is good,” said trainer Jimmy Jerkens, adding that the
Florida Derby (G1) winner will have one more work, either Saturday or Sunday,
before departing next Tuesday for his engagement in the May 2 Kentucky Derby.
“I don’t have everything scheduled minute-by-minute, except for the Derby
itself,” Jerkens explained. “A million different things go into it. If it’s nice
tomorrow (Sunday), he may go for a walk along the horse path with the pony.”
Under exercise rider Juan Moreno on Friday morning, the three-year-old zipped
three-quarters in 1:12.03, the fastest of six at the distance, while Daily
Racing Form clockers caught him galloping out in 1:25.55.
Jerkens said the slight quarter crack in Quality Road’s right hind foot has
not presented a problem since being being patched on April 8 by noted hoof
specialist Ian McKinlay, who also treated last year’s Kentucky Derby and
Preakness (G1) winner Big Brown and 1997 Belmont S. (G1) victor Touch Gold. A
quarter crack is a crack that appears in the wall of the hoof, often starting at
the coronet band, where the hoof meets the hair, and growing down. It can also
start in the wall and move upward.
That, and the fact Quality Road lost some weight following his track record
performance in the Florida Derby, in which he covered the nine furlongs in
1:47.72, both appear to be issues that are behind him.
“It looks like he put some flesh back on and the foot looks like it’s in good
shape, so we should be in good shape,” Jerkens said.
Quality Road heads into the Kentucky Derby with a record of 3-1-0 from four
starts and earnings of $632,830 for owner/breeder Edward P. Evans.