Sunday Silence’s Bruised Foot Much Better

Kentucky Derby winner Sunday Silence’s bruised foot was much improved today, but his status for the Preakness will not be decided for another day or two.

The bruise on the colt’s front right foot that was discovered Sunday is responding well to initial treatment, said veterinarian Alex Harthill, who flew from Louisville to examine Sunday Silence.

“I’m pleasantly surprised, but we’ve still got a long way to go,” Harthill said today in front of Sunday Silence’s stall. “He’s a good, game horse, so it’s hard to tell if something’s bothering him. I think it will get better unless something else happens. . .. . He’s come a long way in a short time.”

Sunday Silence walked the shed row under tack for an hour early today at Pimlico Race Course. Trainer Charlie Whittingham intended to gallop the colt today but canceled those plans because of muddy track conditions.

“It’s mud and muck on the top but it’s as hard as this road underneath,” Whittingham said.

Whittingham, who said the colt is still being pointed for Saturday’s Preakness, plans to gallop Sunday Silence Tuesday and breeze the colt five-eighths of a mile Wednesday. A decision of whether the colt will have to be scratched from the Preakness probably will be made after Wednesday’s workout.