Trainer Jimmy Jerkens expressed optimism Friday afternoon that Florida Derby
(G1) winner QUALITY ROAD (Elusive Quality), a leading contender for the Kentucky
Derby (G1), would be able to make the May 2 “Run for the Roses” after noted hoof
specialist Ian McKinlay treated another quarter crack in a different hoof.
Jerkens said Friday morning at Belmont Park he first noticed the crack, this
one on the inside of his right-front hoof, on Thursday after the Edward Evans’
homebred returned from a routine morning gallop.
Quality Road, who appears fully recovered from a slight quarter crack in his
right-hind hoof suffered in March, developed this quarter crack, estimated at
about one-half inch long, sometime Thursday.
“He wasn’t sore or anything,” Jerkens said. “We brought him in to pull his
shoes afterward and that’s when we noticed it.
McKinlay, who successfully patched the first injury, has been treating the
crack since Thursday.
“I saw Quality Road (Thursday) morning and that’s when we noticed the crack,”
McKinlay said. “I did him up with Animalintex (poultice), which draws out the
infection. This morning, the crack was very clean. Obviously, he didn’t go to
the track, so they tubbed him.
“It was a straight crack, with no infection,” McKinlay added. “I really don’t
think it is as serious as the other one (right-hind quarter crack).
A Friday afternoon report from Jerkens and McKinlay was upbeat.
“Ian closed the crack up with laces (this afternoon),” Jerkens said. “We will
jog him tomorrow, if there’s no blood we can patch him. He can gallop Sunday and
breeze Monday, and if he is sound Tuesday we’ll ship to Kentucky.
“Right now, he’s absolutely sound,” Jerkens added. “But to miss your last
work when you wanted to work before the Derby is crucial.”
McKinlay, whose client list includes 1997 Belmont S. (G1) winner Touch Gold
and 2008 Derby and Preakness (G1) winner Big Brown, said he was fully confident
Quality Road would be able to make the Derby.
“The foot is cold, which is a tremendous sign,” McKinlay said. “He’s a little
sensitive at the hairline, but now that it is stabilized (with the laces) the
pain will go away. It’s not bothering him and I don’t think there’s any
infection.”
McKinlay said Quality Road’s quarter crack was far less severe than the ones
which affected Big Brown and Touch Gold.
“Compared to Big Brown, this is a nice picnic in Central Park,” McKinlay
said. “And compared to Touch Gold, Big Brown was a picnic in the park. This is
night and day and should be a minor deal.”
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.
The track record-setting winner of the Florida Derby, Quality Road posted an
impressive 4 1/4-length victory in the Fountain of Youth S. (G2) two starts
back.