Monarchos 'up and stable' after colic surgery

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Monarchos, the 2001 Kentucky Derby winner, is “up and stable” after undergoing colic surgery Tuesday night at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington.

The surgery, first reported by Paulick Report, is the 14-year-old stallion’s second colic surgery in 16 months. In April 2011, he underwent surgery to correct a twisted bowel and recovered to return to the breeding shed at Nuckols Farm in Midway, Ky.

Nuckols Farm employee Chestene McDaniel said Thursday morning that Hagyard had transferred Monarchos from its surgical facility to its medicine facility and that the horse was on his feet and doing well.

Monarchos won the Kentucky Derby for owner John Oxley and trainer John Ward in the race’s second-fastest time of 1:59.97. He also won the Florida Derby, finished second in the Wood Memorial, and ran third in the Belmont Stakes that year. He is the sire of 2009 champion female sprinter Informed Decision and Grade 2 winner Win Willy. His runners have earned more than $14.5 million.

Jim Squires bred Monarchos from the Dixieland Band winner Regal Band.