Dr. Steven Zedler stands in the stall with Kentucky Derby champion Barbaro following surgery at the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center May 21, 2006. The life of Barbaro hung in the balance after a delicate operation Sunday to repair a life-threatening leg fracture suffered in the Preakness Stakes. The colt survived the surgery at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center for Large Animals in Kennett Square, Pa., and was in his stall, officials said. - REUTERS
NEW YORK, (REUTERS)
BARBARO JOCKEY, EDGAR Prado, hopes that concen-trating on his riding will help him forget about the colt's Preakness catastrophe.
"I was heartbroken Monday and Tuesday," Prado said yesterday. "I guess the busier I stay, the better it will be for me."
Prado was aboard Barbaro on Saturday when the Kentucky Derby champion and Triple Crown hopeful fractured his right hind ankle and began the delicate fight for his life.
"Saturday was a nightmare," Prado said after winning yesterday's first race at Belmont Park. "I'm trying to bounce back and concentrate on my riding."
Barbaro is recuperating at an animal hospital in Pennsylvania after a undergoing a life-saving, four-hour operation Sunday to repair his fractured ankle.
Doctors say the muscular, three-year-old son of Dynaformer out of La Ville Rouge remains fighting for his life and is still no more than an even-money bet to pull through.
Prado has been praised by doctors for quickly jumping off Barbaro in mid-race and calming him down.
"I think anybody could have done the same job," Prado said. "I reacted pretty quickly and I tried to hold him together. The horse did his job by not fighting with me.
"I stopped thinking about the race and the Triple Crown right away. The only thing I could think of was him. I wanted to pull him up and comfort him as soon as I could.
"Each second felt like an hour."
The 38-year-old Peruvian-born Prado is optimistic that Barbaro will recover, although the colt's racing career ended on Saturday at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.
"He's an intelligent horse," Prado said. "He knew he was hurt and he knew what he wanted -- he wanted to survive. I think he'll make it through. He's a very special horse."
It has been a difficult year for Prado, who lost his mother to cancer in January.
"The hardest part of my life was when I lost my mother," said Prado. "Saturday was the toughest day of my career. It was love at first sight with Barbaro."
Barbaro was unbeaten in six career starts until the Preakness, having won the Kentucky Derby on May 6 by 6 1/2 lengths, the widest margin in 60 years.
"Of all the tears I have cried, if tears could heal a wound, Bar-baro would be healed by now," Prado said. "I've been thinking about him and I've been crying on and off. I can't do any more."
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