Grade 1 Haskell Invitational winner Paynter had a good Sunday as he continues
to recover from colitis, owner
Ahmed Zayat reported
via Twitter.
“Best report we have had so far,” Zayat announced. “Prayers must be working.
“Our warrior is being himself for the first time today. He is no longer timid
with (Dr.) Laura (Javsicas) in his stall.
“In fact he was fighting her as she tried to do an ultrasound on him. His
appetite has increased and his attitude is playful.
“His temperature and blood are both normal. His feet are perfect. It seems
that Paynter has taken a big step today.
“So all in all with his improved attitude, demeanor, his normal blood work
and chemistry, I am getting a huge sigh of relief.
“It’s good to hear that after Dr. Laura groomed him he rolled in his clean
shavings like a normal horse
“Our star Paynter is responding to all your prayers and good wishes, all his
vets are doing a fantastic job! We are so blessed.”
Paynter’s trainer
Bob Baffert reacted to the news.
“Paynter has to be the most unbelievable horse I’ve seen fight for his life.
Wow. Still hangin in there,” the Hall of Famer tweeted.
“We always thought Paynter was tough as nails. Let’s keep prayin.”
The encouraging news comes one week after Paynter was admitted to the Upstate
Equine Medical Center in Schuylerville, New York. Exhibiting both fever and
diarrhea, the top-class three-year-old was diagnosed with colitis, and his
condition had deteriorated alarmingly by Thursday.
On Friday, Paynter began to rally, and his progress has continued over the
weekend.
Justin Zayat,
the owner’s son and racing manager, tweeted earlier Sunday:
“Paynter heading in right direction. Long way to go. As soon as his diarrhea
improves we will take him out to graze.”
Ahmed Zayat had given some additional details Sunday morning:
“He is brighter today. Still has diarrhea, his protein levels have dropped so
we have him more plasma last night and it has improved this morning. Appetite is
fair. We are trying new foods.”
Paynter’s current illness is believed to be unrelated to the fever that he
spiked a couple of days after the Haskell, which prompted a stay at a New Jersey
veterinary clinic. After his release, he stopped at Belmont Park before
rejoining Baffert’s team at Saratoga. He had resumed training there
before coming down with this serious case of colitis.
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