Chitu re-shod with conventional shoe

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Chitu, who lost his special right front shoe Sunday during his final workout for the Kentucky Derby, was re-shod in a conventional shoe and will wear that for training the rest of the week as well as for the Derby itself Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Chitu had the morning off Monday, which is standard procedure the day after a drill for trainer Bob Baffert.

Baffert said Chitu did not suffer more damage to that hoof as a result of losing the shoe a furlong into the six-furlong work. The adhesive Equilox was applied to the hoof in concert with the new shoe, and if you look at the hoof now, you would not know there ever was a problem there.

Chitu had seedy toe, a fungus that can cause damage if not treated quickly and appropriately. The fungus is long gone, but until the hoof wall grows down, special care needs to be taken, including wearing the spider-bar shoe in which he worked and applying Equilox to the hoof.

Chitu won the Sunland Derby in his last start and went through a similar program prior to that race.