****taken from the Downey Prolfile******

The Latest on Quality Road. This about Quality Road from the Virginia Thoroughbred Association website posted yesterday: \"The latest news from Chris Baker, the manager of Edward P. Evans\' Spring Hill Farm is that \'the foot is doing very well. At this point, it appears as if it will not affect the horse's preparation or performance.\'\"

Then Baker said, \"QR will probably not have a published work this week, just a long, strong gallop. His last major work will be on Friday, April 24 or Saturday, April 25. He will ship to Kentucky via Tex Sutton on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 28 and train up to the race at Churchill.\'\"

The VTA is of course cheerleading Quality Road, who\'s now stabled at Belmont Park, because he\'s a Virginia-bred. The question of whether his quarter-crack will affect him in the Kentucky Derby, or prevent his entry in the race, remains an open one. For now, things seem well for Quality Road. But after Quality Road\'s breeze last Friday, trainer Jimmy Jerkens said, \"Quarter cracks can always resurface. We\'ll stay on top of it.\"
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Just don\'t see how this horse can be fit enough to go 1 1/4 off of one two turn prep and then 2 breezes (2 weeks apart) in the 6 weeks leading up to the race.  

Ashame because I like Jerkins and I think the horse is special but the more info that comes out (along with his pattern), the more he looks like a complete toss to me.

manning: Quality Road works well for Derby
By David Grening
ELMONT, N.Y. - Quality Road continues to show no ill effects from a quarter crack in his right hind foot as he worked a strong six furlongs in 1:12.03 Friday morning over the Belmont Park training track in preparation for a start in the May 2 Kentucky Derby.

Working at 9:30 a.m, following the second renovation break, Quality Road went his first three furlongs in 36.93 seconds and his last three furlongs in 35.10 seconds as exercise rider Juan Moreno nudged on him only slightly outside the eighth pole. Quality Road galloped out seven furlongs in 1:25.55.

\"He let him out at the end; still, it didn\'t look like he went in 1:12,\" said trainer Jimmy Jerkens, who caught him almost a second slower.

Quality Road suffered his quarter crack while winning the Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on March 28. Nine days later, Quality Road showed some blood coming from the quarter crack after a routine gallop at Belmont. But after receiving a new patch on April 8, Quality Road has not missed a beat in his training, working a half-mile in 48 seconds on April 10 leading up to Friday\'s drill.

\"He lost a few pounds after the Florida Derby,\" Jerkens said. \"I wanted to get that back on him. Losing a few pounds and having the quarter crack I was a little worried, but it looks like he put some flesh back on and the foot looks like it\'s in good shape, so we should be in good shape.\"

Jerkens said Quality Road would likely work once more at Belmont next weekend before shipping to Churchill Downs on April 28.

covelj70: how about that.  very interesting.  guess I learned my lesson about listening to the Virinia Horseman\'s Assoc.

the plot thickens.

thanks for this