Surgery on Stephan’s Odyssey Appears Promising

Two veterinarians performed delicate surgery Friday to give Stephan’s Odyssey, Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes runner-up, a new lease on life, and a spokesman at Hialeah Park in Florida said things are going well.

The 3-year-old son of Danzig shattered a bone in his left front leg Dec. 15 during a half-mile workout at Hialeah. Veterinarians Larry Brumlage and Stephen Selway held off on the surgery for almost two weeks because life-threatening blood clots developed in the leg.

Officials said it may be several days before knowing for sure how well the horse will respond. Stephan’s Odyssey will never race again, but successful surgery would allow the colt to be put out to stud. Owner Henryk de Kwiatkowski did not have him insured.