SARATOGA SPRINGS – Radiographs of Barbaro’s right hind leg, taken when his cast was changed Sunday, indicate the fractures he sustained in the Preakness are healing so well, the cast could come off in the near future.

“The cast was changed because there was a small crack in it,” said Dr. Dean Richardson, chief of surgery at the New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pa. “Based on new radiographs that were taken, the leg looked excellent under the cast. 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.”

There are no signs of infection in the right hind leg, and Barbaro seems comfortable with his left hind foot, which is recovering from laminitis.

“Barbaro is bright and happy this morning, with an excellent appetite,” Richardson said.