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Brazilian import Bal a Bali undergoing treatment for laminitis

Brazilian superstar Bal a Bali was to have joined Richard Mandella in preparation for the Breeders' Cup (Courtesy of Fox Hill Farm via Facebook) Brazilian Triple Crown winner Bal a Bali, who was to join Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella at Del Mar this past weekend, has unfortunately developed laminitis while still in Miami. Fox Hill Farm, the colt's new co-owner along with Siena Farm, made the following announcement Sunday evening: "We have a Bal a Bali update that we'd rather not be making. He was scheduled to fly out to Richard Mandella over the weekend, but a small lameness issue cropped up nearing the end of last week. "We've been proactive at every stage, including sending him to the nearest clinic when he was first noticed lame, but as of yesterday (Saturday), it was confirmed that we are battling laminitis. We have the vets from Palm Beach Equine as well as Rood & Riddle working on him, and we've brought in a mobile cold water pool for him. "The news was fairly positive today and we hope that it continues to be positive over the coming days. We'd like to thank Dr. Davis, Dr. Dryden, and everyone else who has been tending to Bal a Bali for all their hard work and dedication to seeing him become well. We hope you'll send good thoughts to the horse and his team."

Fox Hill posted a Monday update from Dr. Davis on the stable's Facebook page:

"We have Bal a Bali in the cold water spa last night and he has been iced in there continuously except to take out for X-rays this a.m.

"Spirit and appetite are great. Lameness was moderately increased again this a.m. for the X-rays but he walks well in the soft rides.

"Digital pulses remain moderately elevated. X-rays showed more thickening at the front of the left fore, still no severe change, but worrisome. He is back in the spa now and we are continuing all treatments. Plan to keep him in the spa continuously and reassess radiographs in the a.m."

Fox Hill and Siena Farm had just purchased the once-beaten colt in July, following his 2 1/2-length victory in the June 8 Grande Premio Brasil. As a Breeders' Cup Challenge event, that race provided the winner an automatic berth in the November 1 Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita. Plans called for him to point to the Breeders' Cup, with the Mile a possible alternative to the 1 1/2-mile Turf.

Campaigned by Stud Alvarenga, Bal a Bali won 11 of his 12 starts. The Dulcino Guignoni trainee first burst onto the international radar with his 7 1/2-length rout of the first leg of the Brazilian Triple Crown at Gavea, the January 12 Grande Premio Estado do Rio de Janeiro, in course record (and near world-record) time for the metric mile, 1:31.36.

Bal a Bali took the second classic, the February 16 Grande Premio Francisco Eduardo de Paula Machado over 2,000 meters, by 3 3/4 lengths. When completing the Triple Crown sweep in the March 16 Grande Premio Cruzeiro do Sul at 2,400 meters, he set another Gavea course record in 2:23.25.

After prevailing in a photo-finish over the older Ferragamo in the Gran Premio Doutor Frontin on heavy ground May 11, Bal a Bali emphatically asserted his superiority versus his elders in the Grande Premio Brasil.

Bal a Bali shipped out July 31 bound for Miami, where he spent time in quarantine. He was due to travel to Southern California last Friday, but his setback led to a change of plan.

Bal a Bali was bred by Haras Santa Maria de Araras in Brazil. Sired by the Honour and Glory stallion Put It Back, he is out of the Group 3-winning In My Side, by Clackson. His second dam is the Ogygian mare By My Side, giving him 4x4 inbreeding to noted producer Gonfalon.

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