Paynter appears to be improving

Paynter, Ahmed Zayat’s Haskell winner who is recovering from colitis and early-stage laminitis, appears to be improving, according to tweets from his connections.

Justin Zayat, racing and bloodstock manager for his father’s Zayat Stables, tweeted that Paynter could undergo hyperbaric chamber therapy and might be turned out in a small pen within 10 days at the Fair Hill Equine Therapy Center, where he has been recuperating since Oct. 15.

Zayat reported that the 3-year-old Awesome Again colt has gained 17 pounds in less than a week, bringing his weight to 938 pounds. Zayat also tweeted a text sent by the rehabilitation center’s founder, Bruce Jackson, saying that the colt’s temperature remains in normal range at around 100.6 to 100.8 degrees and “his attitude is just great.”