Monarchos, the 2001 Kentucky Derby winner, is recovering from colic surgery performed April 19 at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute near Lexington, Ky. He stands at Charles Nuckols III’s Nuckols Farm near Midway, Ky.

"The surgery consisted of straightening multiple twists of the small intestine, but there was no sectioning required and, barring any complications, the 13-year-old stallion is expected to recover and begin servicing mares again in three to four weeks," Nuckols said. "We are of course concerned for the horse, but extremely encouraged by his prognosis."

Ten years ago next month Monarchos ran the second-fastest Kentucky Derby in history in 1:59.97, joining Secretariat as the only winners to cover the 1 1/4-mile distance in less than two minutes. Monarchos, who raced for John C. Oxley, later ran third in that year’s Belmont Stakes.

Monarchos has sired 13 stakes winners, including Informed Decision, who won the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. This year, Monarchos’ son, Win Willy, won the Oaklawn Handicap