Justify “Great” Monday After Minor Irritation on Leg

Justify | Horsephotos

Two days after capturing the GI Kentucky Derby with undefeated 'TDN Rising Star' Justify (Scat Daddy), Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said the colt developed minor irritation on his left hind leg Sunday and already showed significant improvement as of Monday morning. Baffert said a skin condition on the leg became agitated when walking on uneven gravel outside his barn at Churchill Downs during an appearance in front of the media.

“It's not an issue,” Baffert said Monday. “It was sensitive there. It's like a diaper rash, what he's got. He looked great today.”

A number of video clips emerged on social media outlets throughout the day showing Justify apparently favoring his other leg while walking on the gravel–something Baffert downplayed as an isolated incident.

“He did not run down–they call them scratches or whatever,” Baffert said. “He's had it before. You get it from wet [tracks] and you have to soften it up. It can be irritating. When he stepped on those rocks [outside the barn], it bit him. That's why he did that. Because he was fine in the morning and today he was fine.”

With the condition likely arising from his run over a sloppy/sealed track in the Derby, Baffert said he expects to walk Justify for four days before resuming training ahead of the GI Preakness S. May 19. The five-time Derby-winning trainer added that he was very pleased with Justify's energy level in the days following his victory. Justify is scheduled to ship from Churchill Downs to Pimlico in the middle of next week.

 

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