Justify (heel) set to gallop Thursday

Kentucky Derby winner Justify is making progress from a heel bruise and is slated to gallop on Thursday at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Bob Baffert said the heel injury occurred due to Justify running in the rain-soaked muddy conditions while winning Saturday’s Derby.

“When he goes to the track (Thursday), he’ll be good. He’s fine,” Baffert told bloodhorse.com. “When I brought him out (Sunday) he looked fine. I just wanted to show him off, I was so proud of him. And when he turned on that gravel (outside of the barn) … I almost didn’t take him out there … and when he turned that’s when it bit him and he flinched.

“I knew it was something from the track. A lot of times from the wet track, a lot of them will burn their heels. But if you get on it right away, it’s preventative.”

The second leg of the Triple Crown — the Preakness Stakes — is scheduled for May 19.

Quip, who didn’t race in the Kentucky Derby, is among the horses expected to challenge Justify at Pimlico.

–Field Level Media