Quality Road jogs to test quarter crack

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - There was Kentucky Derby news on three fronts Saturday morning, with Quality Road jogging to test his injured quarter cracks at Belmont Park in New York, Dunkirk working at Palm Meadows, and five Derby contenders turning in their final drills here at Churchill Downs.

Quality Road, the Florida Derby winner, jogged 1 3/4 miles on Belmont's training track. Ian McKinlay, the foot specialist who is treating the colt, told owner Ned Evans, "No blood, he's sound. You can't ask for more than that."

McKinlay said he would put a fresh patch on the quarter crack on Quality Road's right front foot on Sunday morning, and insert a drain. He also has an older quarter crack on his right rear foot.

Quality Road is now scheduled to gallop at Belmont on Sunday, and work on Monday. If he progresses satisfactorily, he will travel to Churchill Downs on Tuesday, trainer Jimmy Jerkens said.

Dunkirk, the Florida Derby runner-up, worked five furlongs in company with stablemate Munnings. With exercise rider Patti Barry aboard, Dunkirk received an official time of 1:01.05 from Palm Meadows clocker Bryan Walls.

"I asked Patti to go in 1:01. She nailed it on the money," trainer Todd Pletcher said from Florida. "I could not have been more pleased."

Dunkirk is scheduled to travel to Kentucky on Tuesday.

At Churchill Downs, on a warm, clear morning, impressive workouts were turned in by the Godolphin team of Desert Party and Regal Ransom. Musket Man, Papa Clem, and West Side Bernie also drilled.

Desert Party (59.44 seconds) and Regal Ransom (59.13) both worked five furlongs. Musket Man worked six furlongs in 1:14.81, Papa Clem worked six furlongs in 1:15.25, and West Side Bernie went a half-mile in 48.22.

- additional reporting by David Grening