Surgery successful for colt injured on Oaks day
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - A Michael Matz-trained horse that broke down on Kentucky Oaks day made it through surgery successfully Monday, and a veterinarian upgraded his survival chances to 60 percent.
Dr. Larry Bramlage, a vet at Rood and Riddle in Lexington, fused bones in Chelokee's right front ankle and replaced ligaments in the back of the limb. Bramlage said the horse's blood supply had returned.
"He's back in the stall, eating well," he said. "Everything went as planned."
Bramlage said there remains some risk after the surgery, but his odds of making it now are better than originally thought.
Chelokee has won five of 10 lifetime starts, including the Barbaro Stakes last May on Preakness day at Pimlico. Barbaro, also trained by Matz, won the 2006 Kentucky Derby before breaking down in the Preakness and being euthanized months later.
Bramlage said the injury to the horses were similar, although Chelokee avoided a fracture.
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