by Frank Angst

Foot specialist Ian McKinlay said the final pre-Belmont Stakes (G1) procedure scheduled for the quarter crack in Big Brown’s left front foot went smoothly today.

Just after noon on Friday, McKinlay removed the current wire lacing, replaced it with new lacing, and then applied an acrylic and fiberglass patch. In treating quarter cracks, McKinlay places stainless steel wire in the hoof which he laces up to pull the quarter crack together.

“The patch was successfully applied,” McKinlay said. “Everything looks perfect. There are no problems I see.”

It is the final procedure scheduled on the foot before Big Brown tries to become the 12th horse in history to sweep the Triple Crown. On Friday, Big Brown galloped about one mile on the Belmont main track after spending about ten minutes standing in the first turn under regular exercise rider Michelle Nevin.

McKinlay said the five-eighths-inch quarter crack that developed in the foot after a May 23 gallop is healing nicely. Since Wednesday, he has been confident the quarter crack will not create a problem in Saturday’s race.

“Wednesday night was the first night I slept really well because that tissue was right where we wanted it,” McKinlay said. “Today it was perfect.”

McKinlay, who plans to meet with friends to watch Saturday’s race on television, is confident the quarter crack and patch will not affect Big Brown.

“Things couldn’t be better,” McKinlay said. “It’s time to make history.”

To read a feature story about the treatment of Big Brown's quarter cracks, click here.

Frank Angst is senior writer of Thoroughbred Times