Paynter continues to show improvement

Paynter continues to make progress from colitis and laminitis, according to a series of updates sent out on Twitter on Sunday night by owner Ahmed Zayat and his son, Justin, the family’s racing manager.

“Today he is having a great day, in fact he had an excellent weekend,” the family’s update read.

According to the Zayats, Paynter’s temperature “has been totally normal for the last 36 hours.”

“His feet are very comfortable,” they added.

Paynter won the Haskell at Monmouth in late July, but became ill soon after that and was taken to a veterinary clinic in New Jersey. After leaving that facility, he was in light training at Belmont Park and then Saratoga, but become ill again two weeks ago and was taken to a clinic in upstate New York, where he has been ever since.