Richardson, who reported Barbaro was "bright and happy" with an excellent appetite Monday morning, said the radiographs also showed that there were no signs of infection.A statement from New Bolton said the cast change took place under general anesthesia, and Barbaro had another successful pool recovery before returning to his stall. The colt's left hind foot has laminitis, but Barbaro seems comfortable with that foot as well. The bandage on the left hind foot continues to be changed daily.Barbaro, winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), has been at New Bolton since injuring his right rear leg during the May 20 Preakness Stakes (gr. I).
Based on the latest examination of Barbaro's injured right hind leg, there is a possibility the classic winner will soon have the cast removed completely.The cast on the leg was changed Sunday by veterinarians at the University of Pennsylvania's George D. Widener Hospital because there was a small crack in it."Based on new radiographs that were taken, the leg looked excellent under the cast, said Dr. Dean Richardson, chief of surgery at the New Bolton Center. "The pastern joint looks completely fused, and there is only a small area in the long pastern bone that has a little farther to go before we take him out of the cast completely."