Graded stakes winner Spirit of Makena is making positive progress in his recovery following surgery earlier this week to address an injury sustained during the Pat O’Brien Stakes at Del Mar on Saturday.
Trainer George Papaprodromou provided an encouraging update via social media, reporting that the 7-year-old son of Ghostzapper “underwent surgery earlier this week and is recovering well”. Del Mar Racetrack also confirmed the positive news, stating the horse “is recovering well back” with Papaprodromou’s stable.
The Incident
Spirit of Makena suffered the injury to his left front fetlock during Saturday’s Pat O’Brien Stakes (G2) at Del Mar. The incident occurred when the horse unseated jockey Mirco Demuro mid-race and continued running riderless.
Adding to the drama, Spirit of Makena had been among two horses that exited the starting gate prematurely, though he was allowed to return and participate in the race. Following the incident, Demuro was transported to a hospital as a precautionary measure and was removed from his final ride of the day.
Papaprodromou initially shared on social media that Spirit of Makena was “resting comfortably in his stall” and was scheduled for surgery Sunday morning.
Career Highlights
Owned by Kristine M. Chandler, Spirit of Makena has established himself as a consistent performer at the graded stakes level. The multiple Grade 3 winner captured both the Triple Bend Stakes (G2) and San Carlos Stakes (G3) in 2023, showcasing his speed and versatility.
Throughout his 12-career starts, the Ghostzapper gelding has compiled an impressive record of four victories, one second-place finish, and one third, accumulating total earnings of $372,600.
Recovery Outlook
While Papaprodromou expressed optimism about the surgery’s success, he emphasized that the next week would be crucial to Spirit of Makena’s recovery process. The trainer’s cautious optimism reflects the delicate nature of fetlock injuries in racehorses, though the early signs appear encouraging.
