Quality Road Works Sharp Six Furlongs

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Photo: Coglianese Photos

Florida Derby winner Quality Road
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Quality Road  , who suffered a quarter crack in his victory in the Florida Derby (gr. I), turned in a sharp six-furlong work in 1:12 2/5 Friday over the Belmont training track.

With exercise rider Juan Moreno aboard, the son of Elusive Quality   went easy the first part and finished up strong, according to trainer Jimmy Jerkens.

“He went three-quarters in 1:12 2/5 and galloped out in just under 1:26,” Jerkens said. “The track was very fast, but he did it really well and came back great. We just washed his legs and had him out in the sun and everything looks good. He looks like he’s holding his flesh pretty good, so, we should be in good shape.

“He’ll have another work similar to what he had today before shipping to Kentucky. I wanted to go a little earlier this time in case things didn’t go according to plan with the weather. Now, if I have to wait an extra day or two that’ll be fine.

Jerkens said he still plans on shipping Quality Road to Churchill the Tuesday before the Derby.

“We flew him up from up here from Florida, and if it had looked like he got a little shook up from traveling we probably would have gone down a little earlier, but it looks like he doesn’t care about it one way or the other, so I think we’ll be OK just waiting until Tuesday. I’d rather do that. I really don’t see much benefit in being there. All I keep in my mind is when I went down to Churchill for the Breeders’ Cup with my dad’s two horses, Devil His Due and Sky Beauty. We went there three weeks early and you couldn’t have two horses run any worse. Neither one of them picked their feet up; so much for shipping early.”

Quality Road has shown no effects from the quarter crack since having a patch put on last week by hoof specialist Ian McKinlay

“I stopped by the barn (Wednesday) and his foot was ice cold,” McKinlay said. “He was walking inside the barn and he was perfectly sound. There’s no sensitivity, and I would say it’s a done deal.”

Quality Road worked over the Belmont training track in :48 3/5 last week.

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