Reports: Kentucky Derby winner Justify found to have heel bruise

Kentucky Derby winner Justify is no longer suffering from scratches, what trainer Bob Baffert described as a diaper rash-like reaction to winning Saturday's race in the slop. But multiple reports Tuesday indicate the colt was examined by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and found to have a bruised heel, the severity of which seems minor.

The KHRC's equine medical director, Dr. Mary Scollay, told Louisville's Courier Journal newspaper she "wouldn't have any reservations" about running the colt in the 2018 Preakness Stakes as planned on May 19 at Pimlico.

Kathy Guillermo, senior vice president for the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals, posted to her Twitter account that she also received confirmation of the heel bruise from the KHRC. PETA had called for examination of Justify after he favored his left-hind leg the morning after the Derby.

“We cleared it up," Baffert told Horse Racing Nation in a text message. "It wasn’t that bad. The track was tough on all of them. Looks great today.”

“We’re looking forward to the Preakness,” added Elliott Walden, whose WinStar Farm co-owns Justify. “He looked like to me, other than that irritation (on a hind leg), he came out of the race great. He looked bright and was feeling very good, had a good energy level.”

A son of Scat Daddy, Justify is unbeaten in four career starts. Since the Derby, he has walked the shed row, which Baffert said the horse did five days after he won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. Justify could return to the track for training Wednesday, but Jimmy Barnes, who is overseeing Baffert's string at Churchill Downs, said it's more likely he does so Thursday.

“A bruise is something you can recover from without long-term consequences,” Scollay told Paulick Report. “That said, I don't have a crystal ball. He bruised it once and could bruise it again – that's an unknown. But he certainly looked and felt good today and we were pleased to see that.”