Zayat Stables’ Grade I winner Paynter is having a “decent day” thus far in his battle against colitis and laminitis, according to owner Ahmed Zayat in his latest update posted on his Twitter account.
Paynter, who has been at Upstate Equine Medical Center in Schuylerville, New York since August 26, was diagnosed with lamintis in three of four feet yesterday. Dr. Bryan Fraley, an affiliate of Hagyard Davidson McGee, was flown in to evaluate the colt and subsequently placed casts to support on his feet.
Zayat posted Wednesday that Paynter still has a fever and diarrhea but that the son of Awesome Again “was walking around comfortably” in his casts.
“It is admirable but heartbreaking. On the positive side, he stays comfortable in his new cast fitting, unbelievably so,” Zayat posted. “He still has diarrhea, but amazingly enough his attitude is better and his appetite continues to improve. He is fighting and we will keep praying for him to fight as long as we are sensitive to his needs. Again, our primary concern is his comfort.”
Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, who lost his father earlier this week, Paynter won the Haskell in his sixth career start after finishing second by a neck to Union Rags in the Belmont Stakes. The colt initially spiked a fever days after his Haskell triumph but appeared to get over that ailment and was slated to ship to California before the latest illness reared up.
Alicia Wincze Hughes is the turf writer for the Lexington Herald-Leader. She started riding at age 8 and was a four-year member of the Pace University equestrian team.
My heart goes out to Mr Zayat and Mr Baffert and Paynter. GOD is Great and Able to do far above what we can ask or imagine.