The top points qualifier on the Road to the Kentucky Derby forced trainer Joe Sharp to make last-minute adjustments after developing a quarter crack in his right front foot.

On Saturday he worked at Keeneland with bar shoes on his front feet when having his first gallop since April 15.

Since then Girvin's foot has received treatment, and to retain fitness, he has spent time in the pool and a hyperbaric chamber at a Kentucky equine centre.

In Saturday's five furlong work Sharp's wife Rosie Napravnik was aboard Girvin while the trainer rode his workmate.

“It was an exceptional work - one of the best works I've ever seen him have. Rosie said the same thing,” Sharp reported.

“He galloped out good and seems to be doing well. As long as he stays like he is now, he's on track for the Derby.

“He showed that he didn't lose any fitness. He had plenty left.”

Sharp said Girvin will probably wear the special bar shoe on his foot until Saturday and will be changed for the race.

“Here's the deal. It's a foot. It's not like we have a suspensory. It's not like we have a chip or a knee injury. It's a foot.

“It's either going to be good enough to run, or he's not going to run. Feet aren't marginal. It's going to be good or it's not.” Sharp said

The plan is to ship Girvin to Churchill Downs May 3, a month since he won the Louisiana Derby on April 1.

Girvin, Sharp’s first Derby starter, won his debut in December but developed a quarter crack in his left front fofot (not the current issue) and did not start again until he finished second on over a mile on the turf at Fair Grounds on February 4.

He then returned to the dirt to win the G2 Risen Star Stakes on February 25 and followed that with a clear victory in the G1 Louisiana Derby to stay undefeated in three dirt starts.

• TODD Pletcher’s Rebel Stakes winner Malagacy and his Wood Memorial Stakes runner-up Battalion Runner will both bypass the Kentucky Derby.

Pletcher has decided to skip the first leg of the Triple Crown with Malagacy and aim for the G1 Preakness Stakes on May 20.

Battalion Runner's defection comes after a less-than-satisfactory workout at Churchill Downs on Friday.

Pletcher said after the work he was disappointed with how Battalion Runner handled the surface.

“It wasn't the powerful work that I was hoping from him,” Pletcher said.

With Malagacy and Battalion Runner out, Lookin At Lee and Sonneteer - third and fourth in the Arkansas Derby - are now in the 20-horse Kentucky Derby lineup.

Sonneteer will bid to join Buchanan (1884), Sir Barton (1919) and Brokers Tip (1933) as only the fourth maiden to win the Kentucky Derby.

Royal Mo, third in the Santa Anita Derby for trainer John Shirreffs, is now next in line in 21st on the order of entry if there is another withdrawal.

Shirreffs said Royal Mo will join his Santa Anita Derby winner Gormley on a flight to Louisville on May 1 in the hope that he will join his stbalemate in the Derby field.

“They leave early Monday. They’ll get to Churchill Monday afternoon and on Tuesday they’ll jog or stretch their legs some way,” Shirreffs said.