Owner Ahmed Zayat gave a Saturday night update on the condition of Paynter,
the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational winner, who is being treated for colitis at
Upstate Equine Medical Center in Schuylerville, New York.
Zayat posted the following on his
Twitter page:
“Paynter update: he continues to head in the right direction. All in all it
has been another good day. Keep your prayers coming.
“We need a couple more of these days. We have a long way to go BUT the major
thing is his temp continues to be normal 100.3.
“All his bloodwork is normal. Vital signs are good. He continues to have
diarrhea. All organs and feet are good.
“Only negative (is) his appetite is not as good as yesterday. But I will take
that any day. We are hoping he will perk up tomorrow.”
Paynter first came down with fever a couple of days after the July 29 Haskell
and spent more than a week at a New Jersey veterinary clinic. Upon his release,
the Bob Baffert colt shipped to Belmont and then upstate to Saratoga, where he
was put back in training.
Last Sunday, Paynter spiked a temperature and began having diarrhea,
necessitating his transfer to the Schuylerville clinic. Veterinarians diagnosed
him with colitis, an illness that is believed to be unrelated to his prior
setback.
Paynter’s condition took a turn for the worse Thursday. Ahmed Zayat and his
racing manager son, Justin, took to Twitter to inform the colt’s fans that the
next 24 hours were vital. Under the care of Dr. Laura Javsicas, Paynter showed
signs of improvement Friday, sparking hopes that he might have turned the
corner.
By Awesome Again, and out of a full sister to Hall of Famer Tiznow, Paynter
developed into a star this season. After going down narrowly to Union Rags in
the Belmont Stakes, he conquered the Haskell by a resounding 3 3/4 lengths, and
laid claim to the title of best three-year-old colt still in training. He was
expected to solidify that status in the Grade 1 Travers, only to be derailed by
that initial fever. Hopes had remained that he could make his presence felt in
the fall, until this serious bout of colitis intervened.
Paynter’s illness is the latest blow to the classic generation, which has
already witnessed the retirements of Kentucky Derby and Preakness hero I’ll Have
Another; Bodemeister, runner-up in the Derby and Preakness for the Zayat/Baffert
team; and Belmont winner Union Rags.
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