Day 40

Surgery

This morning I went to the Cleveland Clinic and had a parathyroid operation to remove one of the four glands.  It meant I would be staying overnight at the hospital, but through the wonder of the Internet the handicapping project continued without missing a beat.  I had handicapped the Friday and Saturday cards in advance and I made my bets for today online at 5 am before we left for the hospital.  The surgery went well and I was able to watch the replays on Kim's iPad before she left to come home for the night.  I have to say that I was so relieved to have this behind me.  It's been a long January with two medical procedures on my head and now this procedure on my throat.  I didn't think that it would take as much out of me as it has, but it's been a long and draining month.  I'm looking forward to getting home tomorrow and recovering....then looking forward to nothing but good things ahead!  In the first race that I had a play in, the third, my pick was Prom dress.  In this maiden claiming event going a one-turn mile she was dropping in class for trainer Todd Pletcher.  The rider switch to John Velazquez sealed the deal, and while it's not usual to see a Pletcher trainee fail to score at first or second asking, this looked the "now or never" race for her.  She was well back as they hit the far turn, but was gathering momentum.  She swept up to the leader at the 16th pole and drew clear by daylight as she crossed the wire. 

The even money price was enough to clear me over $20.  In the 4th Lady Midnight stalked the leader but could not get by, second best at 2/1.  The fifth was my "BET of the Day."  Mozambique Gold appeared to be a "single" in the Rainbow Pick Six to me.  Today she was making just her third career start, and second off the shelf.  She was a close fourth in her debut in what had become a KEY race.  In her last, off a layoff she was third but was four-wide.  The fact that both of those races were in MSW company an she was dropping into a $75K spot today should be enough to get her home I thought.  Her trainer, George Weaver was 27% overall and Mozambique Gold's last two figures (66-67) were not only nearly paired - often indicative of a move forward - but they were BOTH better than any lifetime number earned by all of her rivals today.  She went right to the front and was L-O-N-G gone. 

The $4.40 payoff meant I'd be cashing for over $40!  Smarts was my last play of the day in the sixth and seemed very logical - the crowd agreed as he was 8/5.  But after stalking the leaders to the turn he stopped.  Tomorrow morning I should be out of here and home before lunch I'm hoping!