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Meanwhile, Out West: - The new Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita is nearing completion and almost ready to test, reports Blood-Horse, and president Ron Charles is (surprise, surprise) feeling positive. "I couldn't be more optimistic," said Charles. "Time will tell." Anything has to be better than the disastrous Cushion Track installation that led to several lost race days last winter when the surface couldn't drain following heavy rain, a situation for which Santa Anita is suing Cushion Track and affiliates for at least $8.4 million in damages. The defendants filed motions earlier this week seeking dismissal of the lawsuit for a variety of...; [Posted August 21, 2008 9:30 AM]; ---

Sticking With Synthethic: Although Santa Anita president Ron Charles was careful to say no decision had been made to renovate the track's synthetic surface or install dirt in time for the Breeders' Cup, owner Frank Stronach strongly hinted the track would keep its synthetic surface for now after meeting with trainers and owners on Sunday, reports the LA Times: "I personally prefer dirt, but the majority of the horsemen I met with like synthetic. So I figure if we are this far into it, we should give a synthetic track another year or two, then make a change if we need to." So,...; [Posted April 21, 2008 9:55 AM]; ---

Saturday, Fleetheart: Update: Or, Fleetheart might make her 5-year-old debut at Santa Anita on Sunday in the Honest Lady Stakes, a race that comes up considerably tougher with Coco Belle, Unspoken Word, and Salvatica among the entries. Take note, Fleetheart fans: The mare will make her 5-year-old debut on Saturday in the Bay Meadows Distaff Sprint, her first start since finishing eighth in the Osunitas Handicap last August. That race -- won by Kris' Sis, who finished third by 1 1/4-length in the G2 Buena Vista handicap on Sunday -- was Fleetheart's first defeat, a loss excused by a muscle injury that...; [Posted February 19, 2008 8:30 AM]; ---

SA Cancels, Gets '09 BC: Santa Anita president Ron Charles had "expected that a limited number of horses" would be able to work over the repaired Cushion Track surface this morning, but a peek at the workout webcam shows a busy scene on the inner training track and a main track that looks far from renovated. Racing has been canceled for Friday and will resume on Saturday (with a pick six carryover of $181,514) over a surface treated with Pro-Ride polymers, which should cure the track of its disastrous drainage problems and boost the cushion to a 7 1/2-inch depth, meaning an end to...; [Posted February 8, 2008 10:00 AM]; ---

A Picture Worth $106.80: It's rare to see a Bob Baffert trainee go to post at odds anything like 52-1, rarer still to see such a longshot win like Air Commander did in today's San Fernando Stakes: The 4-year-old Point Given colt, making his third start off a freshening following a second place finish in last year's San Felipe, stalked Johnny Eves into the stretch, then dueled to the wire, prevailing by the narrowest of noses. Favored Tiago finished third while gaining in the stretch, proving again he prefers greater distance than the 1 1/16 miles he had to run this afternoon. Props...; [Posted January 12, 2008 11:00 PM]; ---

Santa Anita Cancels: No live racing at the Great Race Place today: Heavy rains overnight have left the so-called all-weather Cushion Track in unsafe condition, much as track officials feared (DRF)....; [Posted January 5, 2008 11:45 AM]; ---

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