Jockey agent Bob Meldahl, who underwent quadruple bypass surgery on June 29 at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, is recovering so rapidly that he paid Clocker's Corner at Santa Anita near his home a brief visit on Friday."I got out of the hospital Saturday and feel remarkably well. I don't have any pain," said the 55-year-old agent, adding that stakes victories by David Flores in the American Handicap (gr. IIT) on Bayamo Sunday and Mike Smith in the Landaluce Stakes (gr. III) on Souvenir Gift Monday have speeded his recovery. Meldahl handles both books."It won't hurt my feelings if we win a couple more this weekend either," added Meldahl. Flores has the mount on favored Even the Score and Smith rides Total Impact in the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) on Saturday.
"It showed a lot of class on the part of Mike Smith and David Flores to work with me through this period," said Meldahl, who hopes to begin coming out on mornings again during opening week of Del Mar on July 21. "A lot of people wouldn't wait." Agent Brad Pegram is assisting Meldahl with Smith and agents Craig O'Bryan and Tom Knust are helping him with Flores during the interim.
