McKinzie tack-walking in preparation for return

ARCADIA, Calif. – McKinzie, a two-time graded stakes winner, is nearing a return to racetrack training after being sidelined with a hock injury in late March.

Trainer Bob Baffert said on Thursday that McKinzie is tack-walking this week at his Santa Anita stable.

“He’ll be back,” Baffert said. “I wanted to make sure he was okay.”

Baffert said McKinzie had issues with a hock detected via a nuclear scan test conducted in late March. Nuclear scans are more precise than routine X-rays and can detect minor deficiencies.

“He was only off for a couple of days,” Baffert said.

Considered Baffert’s leading 3-year-old prospect last winter, McKinzie has won 3 of 4 starts and earned $350,000. He finished first in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on March 10, but was demoted to second for bumping runner-up Bolt d’Oro near the finish.

McKinzie had two workouts following the San Felipe before he was sidelined.

Baffert won Sunday’s Grade 3 Desert Stormer Stakes for female sprinters with Marley’s Freedom, who recently was transferred to him from trainer Bob Hess Jr. by owner Cicero Farms.

Marley’s Freedom is a candidate for the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs at Los Alamitos on July 7, Baffert said.