Pluck Has Emergency Colic Surgery

Pluck, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner, underwent successful surgery on Nov. 3 at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, where he was rushed after exhibiting signs of colic a few hours before his scheduled return in the Commonwealth Turf Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Churchill Downs.

Surgeons found that Pluck was suffering from a torsion, or full twist, of the large colon, according to a press release from Team Valor International.

"They were able to get it untwisted, and he came of the surgery and anesthesia well and is resting now,” said Barry Irwin, president of Team Valor, which races Pluck with Vinery. “He had a very painful experience, and he’s going to be feeling bad for another three or four days, but thankfully it looks like he’s going to be OK.

“Eventually he will be sent to Goldmark Farm in Florida, and as he recovers, we’ll decide with Vinery whether or not to try to bring him back to race again.”