Affirmed Recovering From Surgery

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Jonabell Farm stallion Affirmed is recovering from successful surgery on his left front pastern, according to a statement from the Lexington, Ky. farm. Jonabell said the operation was performed last Friday by Dr. Larry Bramlage at Rood & Riddle Equine Clinic.

Affirmed had suffered from a chronic ligamentous injury to the back of his pastern joint but the problem had not limited the 25-year-old horse's activity until recently. According to Jonabell, the horse re-injured the ligament and it became painful, limiting his exercise.

Jonabell said Bramlage was satisfied with Affirmed's condition in the days following the operation, with the main concern now being "appropriate wound healing, infection at the incision site, and possible mechanical breakdown of the implants used to stabilize the pastern joint."

The horse, who is wearing a cast, is being hand-walked and grazed for short periods daily. With his condition "improving at a steady rate" and barring any unexpected setbacks, Affirmed should be ready to be turned out in his paddock by the first of the year, according to Jonabell.

A son of Exclusive Native best known for his sweep of the 1978 Triple Crown races over rival Alydar, Affirmed has sired 75 stakes winners to date.

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