QUALITY ROAD GALLOPS; MONDAY WORKOUT DECIDING FACTOR
FROM NEW YORK RACING ASSOCIATION PRESS OFFICE
QUALITY ROAD RECEIVES PATCH FOR SECOND QUARTER CRACK
Kentucky Derby hopeful Quality Road returned from a mile and three-quarter gallop on the Belmont Park training track with a tinge of blood from a newly-patched quarter crack, but his connections remain optimistic he will make the May 2 “Run for the Roses.”
A five-furlong breeze Monday morning will be the determining factor on whether the Elusive Quality colt makes the trip to Churchill Downs.
“He has to work to our liking and come out of it perfectly,” said Jimmy Jerkens, who trains Quality Road for owner/breeder Edward P. Evans. “If he takes one bad step anywhere, forget it.”
At about 7 a.m. Sunday, hoof specialist Ian McKinlay replaced a set of wires, inserted a drain, and then put an acrylic patch on the quarter crack on the inside of the colt’s right-front hoof.
“He’s well on the mend,” said McKinlay, who successfully treated a quarter crack on the colt’s right-hind foot that he developed during his track record performance in the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 28th.
“This is live tissue – we’re not changing a flat tire, so there are a lot of judgment calls, McKinlay said. “Everything had been stabilized and when I changed the wires today, the crack opened up. There was a bit of sensitive tissue aggravated during the process. Hopefully, there won’t be a tinge of blood tomorrow when he breezes.”
Jerkens said the hoof will be treated Sunday with a drying agent called “Thrush Buster” and also with Animalintex poultice.
“He’s got 24 hours to get better,” said Jerkens. “I would have liked to have seen no blood, but it didn’t surprise me because he was still tender. He’s sound, he galloped the way he usually does, but I would have been more optimistic without blood.”
Tags: animalintex, edward p. evans, ian mckinlay, jimmy jerkens, kentucky derby, New York Racing Association, Paulick Report, Quality Road, quarter crack, Ray Paulick, thrush buster
April 26th, 2009 at 11:12 am
It would be nuts to run him. I really hope they don’t.
April 26th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
MED-It would probably be more nuts NOT to run him. They’re only three years old on the first Saturday in May once. Horses run and win with these problems all the time! Being that its the Ky Derby, the connections should be more willing, not less willing to send him out there.
April 26th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Isn’t the focus really about the horse from the horse’s perspective…not the human’s? I haven’t made a decision yet, but both previous posts express legitimate opposing viewpoints on the extreme ends of the spectrum. Let’s face it. This is going to affect the prep training schedule. That to me is critical. Let’s just say I’m starting to look at other horses. It saddens me to say that because I really wanted this horse to go, but if it’s not right, I don’t want him to run. Mr. Jerkens is not an idiot or training troll or drug dealer. At the same time, it will be a tough call. Curious to eventually find out how Mr. Evans will influence the decision.
There have been Derby winners with more serious issues, but did they win the TC? I think the best thing would be to switch focus to the Preakness and Belmont and BC. But it isn’t my horse or my money.
April 26th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Steve D, the Derby isn’t worth risking the horse’s career. This is an extremely talented horse so why take the chance of doing serious damage? One quarter crack I could live with, but not two.
April 26th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
MED:
It seems to me that the feet are talking, even if the horse can’t. Not worth the risk in my opinion. But I do know Mr. Jerkens and Mr. Evans will do the right thing….ain’t no money in the world that can bring back life. I’m thinking, plan for the better day. Don’t fall victim to the hype (and ain’t it charismatic?) of the KD. That being said, I think stress/hairline fractures are the real Devil in racing, most especially for the “good” trainers and owners.
Live to fight on a better day. Sadly all this focus on the 2 and 3 yo’s is killing racing. My favorites horses of all time? Exterminator and Genuine Risk. Why? Because the filly almost did it and Exterminator (Old Bones) beat the crap out of the others for a very long, long time with handicap weights that were unbelievable in this day (they certainly were other HHs that did well). What happened? Why are we where we are now? Oh, that’s right…money and no appreciation of time and the value of patience. Sad.
Best wishes to all the connections. It’s going to be an interesting Derby.
April 26th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Any bleeding Monday and he’s out. Dry, and he has four days to rest and run. However, the track on Sat. will be very hard, very fast and a problem for a tender hoof. This second quarter crack has told us this horse has hoof problems.
April 26th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
And the rains are predicted for Oaks day (again), with some follow up on KD Day…should be interesting. Track treatment for both should be interesting on the odds. I asked for a mudder in the mix and never got an answer for the KD potentials. I don’t think QR will run. I hope I’m wrong, for the right reason…he’s perfectly healthy. Still think the feet are saying what no one else will. Give the horse the benefit of the doubt.