Paynter romps in return to competition

No one could touch Paynter in his return to action (Benoit Photos) Paynter was an easy winner in his four-year-old debut, easily disposing of Majestic City and six others in the 7TH race, a $63,866 allowance, Friday at Hollywood Park. Sidelined due to several serious health issues — including laminitis and colitis — since winning the Haskell Invitational last July 29 at Monmouth Park, the son of Awesome Again was a virtual gate-to-wire winner for owner Ahmed Zayat and Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. The 4 1/2-length victory by the 2-5 favorite was the fourth of five wins Friday for jockey Rafael Bejarano, moving him back into the top spot in the jockey stands at Hollywood Park over Joe Talamo. Through 31 days, Bejarano leads Talamo 36-32. Worse than third only once in the first six starts of his career in 2012, Paynter established a slight advantage over Majestic City early, then kicked away early in the stretch and won with plenty in reserve. “First of all, I want to thank the connections for giving me this opportunity,” said Bejarano, whose only previous collaboration with Paynter resulted in a 3 3/4-length score in the Haskell. “I had a lot of pressure in the first part of the race, but I knew I had a lot of horse underneath me. I had a lot of confidence in this horse and I knew he was going to win easily. We had a fantastic trip.”

A $325,000 purchase at the 2010 Keeneland September
Yearling Sale, Paynter earned his fourth victory in what was his synthetic track
debut. The payday boosted his bankroll to $989,424 as he covered the seven
furlongs over Cushion Track in 1:21 4/5 to move his record to 7-4-2-0. That
includes, in addition to the Haskell, a runner-up placing in the Derby Trial and
a neck second in the Belmont Stakes.

“He is just an incredible, phenomenal horse,” Baffert said. “I can’t
believe he is back. He’s just a great horse.”

Paynter’s return to racing had seemed beyond the realm of possibility. The
well-bred son of Awesome Again, out of a full sister to Hall of Famer Tiznow,
fell ill just as he was rising to the top of the active three-year-old class
after the retirements of 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness hero I’ll Have
Another and Belmont winner Union Rags. Thwarted by Union Rags in the final
strides of the 1 1/2-mile Belmont, Paynter came right back to dominate the
Haskell, and appeared poised for a big second half of the season.

But instead of fighting for glory on the racetrack, Paynter wound up fighting
for his life in the hospital last summer. He initially came down with fever
while still at Monmouth. Transported to an equine clinic nearby, he spent more
than a week there before eventually venturing up to Saratoga. Paynter had only
just resumed training when he became even more seriously ill with fever and
diarrhea. He was admitted to the Upstate Equine Medical Center near
Schuylerville, New York, where he was diagnosed with colitis.

A beaming Bejarano celebrating Paynter’s return to racing (Benoit Photos) Paynter’s condition was touch-and-go, but after he appeared to turn the corner, he then developed laminitis. Again connections feared that he was at death’s door, but Paynter recovered under the watchful eye of Dr. Laura Javsicas. Although improving, Paynter was still experiencing fever, and not thriving as hoped. Further testing revealed that the colt had an abscessed area in his colon. Sent to New Bolton Center for additional consultations, he underwent intestinal surgery at the Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, facility on October 3. Paynter responded immediately to the operation and began to regain weight. He was transferred to the Fair Hill Equine Therapy Center near Elkton, Maryland, for a period of rehabilitation. Amazingly, Paynter did so well that by late December, his veterinarians cleared him to return to the rigors of training. He flew to Southern California and rejoined Baffert at Santa Anita, where he was brought along until ready to post his first work back — a sharp three furlongs in :36 on February 26.

Paynter has fired a couple of six-furlong bullets of late, a 1:12 1/5 move at
Hollywood on May 25 and a 1:12 4/5 drill at Santa Anita on June 1. Both were
from the gate. He completed his major preparation with a half-mile tune-up in
:48 3/5 at Santa Anita last Friday, one week ahead of his comeback.

Zayat, who kept fans all over the world aware of Paynter’s
condition through social media last year, was ecstatic to see the striking
bay back in action.

“He is so courageous,” he said. “He’s a true trooper, a special horse.
He loves to do what he does, which is what he did today. What else can you say?
Thank you, thank you Lord.”

Grade 3 winner Majestic City knows what its like to return from a long
layoff, as he ran fourth in the Los Angeles Handicap last out following a more
than 10-month break. Making just his second start from that lengthy vacation for trainer Ron Ellis,
the City Zip four-year-old was a clear
second by 6 1/4 lengths over Fly Lexis Fly, who in turn had a nose up on Kate’s
Event on the wire.

A trio of imports followed in Argentine-bred Grand Berry, Chilean-bred Dime
Que and fellow Chilean-bred Ashtar, while Charlie’sboywins brought up the rear.

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