Paynter romps in return to competition

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.

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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