Kennett Square, Pa. ? Amid the public outpouring of sympathy for Barbaro and his owners’ hopes that “someday all of you will be able to see little Barbaros running around the track,” there remains an underlying question:

Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro is fed a carrot by Dr. Dean Richardson Tuesday in the intensive care unit at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pa. Richardson says the colt is recuperating well since pulling up lame in the Preakness on Saturday.

Would all this money and time be spent on a horse’s recovery if he were not the Kentucky Derby winner and expected to gain millions in stud fees?

“If this horse were a gelding these owners would have definitely done everything to save this horse’s life,” said Dr. Dean Richardson, who pinned together the leg bones the 3-year-old shattered in the Preakness. “If this horse could have absolutely no reproductive value, they would have saved this horse’s life.”

Even if Barbaro becomes a stallion, there still would be questions concerning his ability to cover mares because of the injury to his hind leg.

“But that’s a long way from now,” Richardson said. “If he’s doing well, it’s conceivable he could possibly be breeding mares next year, but that’s way ahead of it. He’s just a few days into post op.”

Even so, there was more good news Tuesday from the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center, where Barbaro was transported Saturday night directly from Pimlico Race Course.

“He’s actually better today than he was even yesterday and he was pretty good yesterday,” Richardson said, noting the colt was able to balance himself enough to scratch his left ear with his left hind leg. “He’s walking very well on the limb, absolutely normal vital signs. He’s doing very well.”