Dunkirk recuperating nicely from surgery

Multiple Grade 1-placed DUNKIRK (Unbridled's Song), pacesetter and eventual

second in the Belmont S. (G1), continues to recuperate nicely in his stall from

Tuesday's surgery to insert a screw in a non-displaced condylar fracture in his

left rear cannon bone.

The surgery was performed by Dr. Patricia Hogan at the new Ruffian Equine

Medical Center across the street from Belmont Park.

"It was as unproblematic as you could ask for," said Jonathan Thomas,

assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher, of the surgery. "He went over there at 11

o'clock, was back in his stall at 4 p.m. (EDT), and the surgery itself took

maybe 15 minutes."

Dunkirk, a $3.7 million yearling purchased owned by Mrs. John Magnier,

Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, will complete his recovery at Ashford Stud near

Lexington, Kentucky.

"He'll leave next week sometime," Thomas said.