QUALITY ROAD DERBY STATUS IN QUESTION WITH SECOND QUARTER CRACK
Friday, April 24th, 2009From New York Racing Association Press Office
Quality Road, one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby, has developed another quarter-crack, putting his status for the May 2 “Run for the Roses” in question.
Trainer Jimmy 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 Elusive Quality colt returned from a routine morning gallop.
“He wasn’t sore or anything,” said Jerkens. “We brought him in to pull his shoes afterward and that’s when we noticed it.”
Jerkens said he was optimistic that Quality Road, who appears fully recovered from a slight quarter-crack in his right-hind hoof, could still make the 1¼-mile Derby. Noted hoof specialist Ian McKinley, who successfully patched the first injury, is scheduled to treat the crack Friday afternoon.
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.
"If Ian can lace it this afternoon, and the horse can gallop tomorrow, he could put a patch on right away and he can breeze on Sunday," said Jerkens. "If he wants to wait another day, he can gallop Sunday, and then breeze Monday."
Quality Road, owned by Edward P. Evans, is scheduled to depart Belmont Park for Churchill Downs on Tuesday. The record-setting winner of the Florida Derby owns a 3-1-0 record and earnings of $632,830.
Statement from hoof specialist Ian McKinlay, regarding Quality Road:
“I saw Quality Road (Thursday) morning and that’s when we noticed the crack [in the right-front hoof]. 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. They’ll dry him up and I’ll see him later this afternoon.
“It was a straight crack, with no infection. I really don’t think it is as serious as the other one [right-hind quarter crack]. If we were able to get right on top of it, I’ll probably lace it this afternoon. You have to remember that we are dealing with a living organism and it has a mind of its own. There is only so much we can do, and then we hope for the best. I’ll know more when I see him this afternoon, and Saturday morning will tell us a lot.”