Leading Thoroughbred sire Awesome Again, who underwent colic surgery Sept. 13 at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, in Lexington, Ky., arrived back at Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs Kentucky near Paris, Sept. 19. The 17-year-old stallion had undergone an exploratory celiotomy for a strangulating lipoma (fatty tumor) of the small colon.

"We are cautiously optimistic," said general manager Eric Hamelback. "He has done everything to this point as well as could be expected. Anytime you have surgery of this magnitude, you’re always extremely concerned, but his attitude is good, and he’s been introduced back to feeding. He is doing very well. We are hand-grazing him as much as possible. So far, everything is positive."

Awesome Again, the 1998 Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) winner, is the sire of 11 grade I winners including four Breeders’ Cup winners, led by 2004 Classic winner and Horse of the Year Ghostzapper.

Awesome Again (Deputy Minister–Primal Force, by Blushing Groom) stood for $50,000 in 2011