By Claire Novak & Jack Shinar

Paynter, the Thoroughbred racehorse who overcame a serious illness and a bout of laminitis, will return to the races later today in California.

The 4-year-old son of Awesome Again will make his first start since last July for trainer Bob Baffert in a seven-furlong allowance event at Betfair Hollywood Park, in Inglewood. Paynter will face seven opponents as the 124-pound co-highweight with Rafael Bejarano aboard. It is the seventh race on the program with a 4 p.m. PDT post time.

"He is as healthy a horse as you want to come into the race," said owner Ahmed Zayat