Sky Mesa out of hospital

Sky Mesa, who leads North America's third-crop sire rankings, returned home to Three Chimneys Farm on Wednesday after undergoing two colic-related surgeries.

A 9-year-old son of Pulpit, Sky Mesa first underwent colic surgery at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., on Feb. 15. Surgeons performed a second surgery there on Feb. 20 to correct an impaction, prompting Three Chimneys to postponed Sky Mesa's target date for a return to breeding from March 15 to March 20.

A Three Chimneys spokesman, Jen Roytz, said Wednesday that the Midway, Ky., farm is sticking with March 20 for Sky Mesa's return to the breeding shed.

Sky Mesa led the second-crop sire rankings last year. His leading earner this year is Triple Crown hopeful General Quarters, winner of the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 14.

Sky Mesa stands for $30,000.