Injury Report: Empire Maker, Kafwain Updates

Trainer Bobby Frankel reported Wednesday morning that Juddmonte Farm's Kentucky Derby favorite Empire Maker will walk the shed row Wednesday and Thursday and could return to the track to jog on Friday. The colt is also scheduled to school in the paddock at Churchill Downs prior to the second race Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Dr. Ken Reed was treating the colt for a bruise on his right front foot. The trainer reiterated that Reed and Frankel's regular veterinarian in California do not think the bruise is a major problem for Empire Maker's Derby challenge.

"This is just an aggravation," a relaxed Frankel said Wednesday morning. "He will be OK. Everything's fine. This would be no big deal if it wasn't the Derby."

In another update, trainer Bob Baffert said the injury that resulted in the withdrawal of The Thoroughbred Corporation's Kafwain from Derby consideration Tuesday has been diagnosed as a strained ligament on the right front leg that will cause the colt to miss four to six weeks of training.