Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro underwent another operation over the weekend to replace a plate and screws holding together his shattered leg.

"Barbaro had developed some discomfort and a consistently elevated temperature so we believed it was in his best interest to remove the hardware and thoroughly clean the site of the infection," doctors at the George D. Widener Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania said.

The main fracture sustained during the Preakness on May 20 is healing well but the pastern joint doctors are attempting to fuse continues to cause concern. This joint was stabilised with new implants and a fresh bone graft.

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