Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra is battling infection as she tries to recover from surgery to treat a colon injury suffered while foaling a healthy Bernardini filly Feb. 12.

Following surgery Feb. 13 at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital to treat an injured small colon and resulting infection, the 2009 Blackberry Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner continued to receive treatment Feb. 14 at the Lexington, Ky., equine hospital.

Managing clinicians Brett Woodie, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, a veterinary surgeon, and Bonnie Barr, VMD, Dipl. ACVIM, an equine internal medicine specialist, said during a press conference Feb. 14 it was too early to offer a prognosis. ( Rood & Riddle press conference.)

"Right now it’s too early to say," Barr said. "We have to see how she responds to treatment and take it one day at a time

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