09/07/2012 11:53AM

Paynter showing more improvement

By Glenye Cain Oakford
Email
Nikki Sherman
Paynter was fitted with casts to support his feet.

Paynter, the Haskell winner who has been in a Schuylerville, N.Y., medical facility with colitis since Aug. 26, continues to show gradual improvement despite having developed laminitis earlier this week, according to his owner.

The owner, Ahmed Zayat, tweeted Friday morning that Paynter, a 3-year-old Awesome Again colt, “is passing manure and eating. He remains comfortable in his casts and walks freely around his stall. His fever is under control. His protein levels have stabilized.”

A low-grade fever and low protein levels were among his connections’ concerns earlier this week as Paynter battled colitis, an inflammation of the colon that can be brought on by causes as various as bacterial infection, a change in feed, and heavy antibiotic use. Friday’s report from Zayat suggested that the colt’s condition was stabilizing after a roller-coaster week. On Monday, Zayat revealed that Paynter had developed an infection at his catheter site, followed by disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, a blood-clotting problem. He began to show signs of laminitis in three legs, prompting Dr. Bryan Fraley to fit him with casts to support his feet.

Paynter is at the Upstate Equine Medical Center in Schuylerville. This is his second round of hospital treatment in the last two months. On July 31, two days after winning the Haskell, Paynter was sent to the Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center in New Jersey for what his connections said they believed to be pneumonia. He returned to light training with Bob Baffert two weeks later but was sent to the Upstate Equine Medical Center in New York on Aug. 26 with diarrhea and a fever.

JoyJackson21 More than 1 year ago
Paynter is still being prayed for everyday by me. We have not had any updates over the weekend, which I hope means he is slowly continuing to get better. Paynter, we pray that you are doing better and feeling better. We pray that you are healed of all of the illnesses you are so courageously fighting. We pray that your medications bring you relief and heal you quickly. We pray for your medical team and that their skills make you better.. We stand in solidarity with you, my boy. Continue to fight with courage and be strong. I will check back tomorrow morning to check on your progress. Have a good night.
chad mc rory More than 1 year ago
With Paynter's story now having slipped to the back, back pages, it's time for his fans and supporters to pay attention even more closely. 9/9/12 cm
Susan Huart More than 1 year ago
Oh, Paynter, you look so good. I'm happy to hear you've improved during our little drf blackout. God, continue to bless Paynter and all his connections, and keep hanging in there! You can do it Big Guy! Everyone here believes in prayer and in full recovery!
Thomas Cook More than 1 year ago
So glad to see Paynter getting better. But the spin goes on I guess. IF HE HAS PNEUMONIA THEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE TRAVERS OR PENNSYLVANIA DERBY AS DRF STATED I NPREVIOUS ARTICLES. BACTERIA CAN ALSO BE ATTRIBUTED TO A MALFUNCTIONING SPLEEN FROM DOPING. wHICH HIS ORIGINAL SYPTOMS DICTATED AFTER THE HASKELL!!!!!! NOBODY MENTIONED PNEMONIA UNTIL HE WAS IN SARATOGA AND WAS RUSHED TO HIS CURRENT CLINIC. YES COLITIS CAN BE CAUSED BY CHANGES IN FEED AND ABUSE OF ANTIBIOTICS. BUT HE DEVELOPED COLITIS AFTER HE WAS TREATED FOR HIS SYMPTOMS AFTER WINNING THE HASKELL. GET IT STRAIGHT!!! STOP TRYING TO DISCREDIT MY REASEACH AND KNOWLEDGE!!! THANK YOU. Very glad he is recovery from how he was trained and handled which caused all of this.
Sam Shelby More than 1 year ago
You doping speculators are a bunch of dopes.
Thomas Cook More than 1 year ago
Sam. with respect. the spleen filters blood. it takes away bacteria from the blood as well as regulating red blood cell and controlling autoimmune functions. So if he was doped, and his system couldn't handle it, he would need immediate medical attention as he got in nj originally. and all of his symptoms match those of doping according to the world doping agency. I been around a while with racehorses sam. i'm 39 and grew up literally on a thoroughbred farm before gettin a degree in equine science. I have owned, trained, ridden, groomed... and work with a respected barn a assistant. I have rescued horses and sent them to careers as show horses as well as just pleasure horses. something stinks with all this.
Joe Rotell More than 1 year ago
not to change the subject but why don't i see anything on the DFR home page about twinspires being hacked. who ever hacked into twinspires got account holders names, address, phone numbers, email address, and cryptographically hashed social security numbers. what kills me is they say they would need a code to get through the hashed social security numbers. they hacked into the website did'nt they ? now they want to give me a free year of experian, EXPERIAN?, i don't want experian, hey twinbspires, "put some cash in my account" to compensate for this pain and suffering that allways seems to come on the weekend. thankyou very much
denali1 More than 1 year ago
The Power of Prayer folks....gotta love hearing the good news. We continue to pray for ya Paynter.
ctgreyhound More than 1 year ago
How can you not smile with news like this? Glimmers of hope are what fuel turnarounds of this magnitude. Progress is the new buzz word. Have another good day Paynter!
Cris McHenka More than 1 year ago
As tricky as these illnesses are, my fondest wish is to see him recover and have a wonderful life. Reading these symptoms I wonder how this differs from West Nile virus since many of the same problems result from that as well. What a scary journey this has been for his owner.
JoyJackson21 More than 1 year ago
Thank Goodness. You continue to improve, that's fabulous. Music to my ears, Paynter! I am so happy to hear you are on the improve. Thank you, Mr. Zayat, for informing us of this great news. We pray for you, Paynter, for your medical team, your owner and his family. We all continue to stand in solidarity with you. Keep on being strong, courage and brave. Continue with the good attitude you have displayed all of this time, too. We pray for your protein levels continue to stay stablized, and that all of the progress you have made in the other areas you have shown improvement in to continue. We pray that your blood clotting problems are cured as soon as possible, as well as the laminitis, infection and colitis. We pray that all of your medications kick in properly, bring you relief and heal you quickly. I am so happy to hear you are walking around comfortably in your stable, your appetite is much better and your intestinal functions are starting to work well again. We send prayers, good thoughts and healing thoughts your way, Paynter. You are a warrior! Keep on fighting, keep up the good work! Continue to heal, continue to get stronger. We all look forward to hearing more good news about your progress tomorrow. Have a good night. I will check in on your progress again tomorrow morning. Hang in there, buddy!