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Brazilian import Bal a Bali undergoing treatment for laminitis

Last updated: 8/11/14 3:21 PM

Brazilian import Bal a Bali undergoing treatment for

laminitis

Brazilian superstar Bal a Bali was to have joined Richard Mandella in preparation for the BC Turf

(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.

Keeneland Opens Friday

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