Analgesic

Although I don't like to lose, I was content with Mustang Island's second-place finish in his race today as the 3-1 betting favorite in a field of 12. The race was at the same distance and over the same surface-- Belmont Park's inner turf course-- as Hot Money's race yesterday. Owing to a recent lack of rainfall, that course has been inordinately hard and fast; the last six sprint races over it, including Mustang Island's race today, have been won by the front runner.

Nevertheless, because Mustang Island is overly anxious to run, our trainer, Christophe Clement, instructed the jockey, Rajiv Maragh, not to go for the early lead, but rather to "cover up" Mustang Island behind and inside other horses. The idea was to teach still-inexperienced Mustang Island to relax in his races until the stretch run. Maragh rode to instructions, and Mustang Island ran well, even though he was not able to overcome the current course bias in favor of the front runner.

I had had a miserable night and day and did not make up my mind until mid-afternoon to go out to Belmont Park with Susan. During the hour or so that I spent with friends in the owners' boxes, visiting the paddock before the race, and watching the race, I felt no pain.