SARATOGA SPRINGS — Trainer Bob Baffert’s 3-year-old colt Paynter, who would have been the favorite for the $1 million Travers Stakes on Aug. 25 off his handy score in the July 29 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park, has been sent to an equine clinic in New Jersey, according to the Daily Racing Form, which received the news from a Monmouth stall office employee.
Paynter was due to fly back to California after the Haskell to train for the Travers, but was not shipped after Baffert said he spiked a fever two days after the Haskell. Paynter was improving, Baffert said in the days that followed, but recently the Hall-of-Fame horseman has not responded to inquiries from the Post concerning Paynter’s condition.
One source at Saratoga told the Post that Paynter has “lingering issues.”
Baffert previously had said Paynter still was being treated at Monmouth. The colt, who ran second in the Belmont Stakes, apparently has not gone to the track for training since the Haskell and must be considered doubtful to run in the Travers.
