Oak Tree ushers in new era of Cushion Track at Santa Anita

Santa Anita's Cushion Track will get its first test during Oak Tree (Benoit Photo) Oak Tree Racing Association's 39th season at Santa Anita kicks off on Wednesday, inaugurating the era of Cushion Track at the Arcadia, California, oval. While the synthetic main track heralds a new departure, the Oak Tree meeting will maintain its tradition of staging crucial preps for the Breeders' Cup World Championships, to be held October 26-27 at Monmouth Park. Installed at a cost of more than $10 million, Cushion Track is composed of silica sand mixed with synthetic fibers, elastic fiber and shredded rubber. Already in play at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, California, the new surface is expected to boost horse and jockey safety as well as provide horseplayers with a consistent, all-weather surface to increase customer confidence. Santa Anita's Cushion Track opened for training on September 4, and horsemen have issued positive reviews. "The works in the morning have been a little quick," said Mike Harlow, Oak Tree's Director of Racing, "but the feedback we've received from most horsemen is that their horses are coming off works in relatively good shape, so that's basically the point: to keep their horses together. I think (running) time is relative, whether it's slow or fast, as long as the horses are staying sound, that's the important thing. Our turf course is in great shape, I know that, so we're expecting a good meet."

Fans attending opening day will receive a collector's item souvenir

paperweight packed with original dirt from Santa Anita's historic main track,

which dates to 1934. The item will be free to the first 15,000 fans with paid

general admission and include a color photo of a group of Thoroughbreds turning

for home and an inscription documenting the significance of the enclosed soil.

"As we usher in a new era at Oak Tree, we really believe this paperweight is

going to be something our fans will treasure for years to come," said Oak Tree

Racing Association Executive Vice President Sherwood Chillingworth. "We're

excited that Oak Tree is going to be the first meet at Santa Anita to run on

Cushion Track."

Wednesday's featured event is the Sen. Ken Maddy H. (G3) for distaffers

sprinting about 6 1/2 furlongs on the unique downhill turf course. Grade 1 queen

DANCING EDIE (Moscow Ballet), who was a game second when trying to defend her

title in the John C. Mabee H. (G1) last time out, rates as the 122-pound

highweight in a sizeable field of 14. The Craig Dollase mare will be cutting

back sharply in distance while trying the downhill for the first time. Among her

chief opponents are multiple Grade 2 heroine ATTIMA (GB) (Zafonic), who captured

the Wishing Well H. at this course and distance but has not raced since

February; Grade 3-winning sophomore SUPER FREAKY (Smart Strike), who likewise

handled this terrain when taking the La Habra S.; and Dubai stakes victress

CLINET (Ire) (Docksider), a close runner-up in the Monrovia H. (G3) in her only

prior try over this trip at Santa Anita.

Opening weekend is brimming with Breeders' Cup implications. Saturday's card

offers three Grade 1 contests, topped by the $500,000 Goodwood S. at 1 1/8

miles. Newly elevated to Grade 1 status this year, the Goodwood is part of the

Breeders' Cup Challenge program, so a victory in this race guarantees a spot in

the starting gate for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). Saturday's $400,000 Yellow

Ribbon S. (G1) at 1 1/4 grassy miles serves as a key prep for the Breeders' Cup

Filly & Mare Turf (G1), while the $250,000 Oak Leaf S. (G1) at 1 1/16 miles has

a bearing on the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) picture. On Sunday, the

$250,000 Norfolk S. (G1) at 1 1/16 miles, also raised to Grade 1 level for 2007,

is a stepping stone to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1).

Major preps for other Breeders' Cup prizes will be held the following

weekend. On October 6, Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) hopefuls will take center stage

in the $250,000 Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship S. (G1) at 1 1/4 miles. On

October 7, speedsters will vie six furlongs in the $300,000 Ancient Title S.

(G1); fillies and mares will travel 1 1/16 miles in the $250,000 Lady's Secret S. (G1),

another newly minted Grade 1; and turf milers will battle in the $250,000 Oak

Tree Mile (G2). Because all three of the October 7 stakes are included in the

Breeders' Cup Challenge program, the winners earn respective berths in the

Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) and Breeders' Cup Mile

(G1).

Other stakes highlights of the meet are the $150,000 Oak Tree Derby (G2) for

sophomores going 1 1/8 miles on the turf on October 13; the $100,000 Morvich H.

(G3) at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the downhill turf on October 27; the $100,000

Carleton F. Burke H. (G3) at 1 1/2 grassy miles on October 28; Cal Cup Day, a

10-stakes extravaganza worth a total of $1.325 million for state-breds on

November 3; and the $150,000 Las Palmas H. (G2) for distaffers at one mile on

the turf on closing day, November 4.

During the 31-day stand, live racing is conducted Wednesdays through Sundays,

plus a special Columbus Day card on October 8. Post time on Wednesdays through

Fridays is 1 p.m. (PT), while racing action gets under way at 12:30 p.m. on weekends

and holidays. The exceptions are October 27, Breeders' Cup Day, with a 9:15

start, and a noon post time for October 26, Breeders' Cup Friday, as well as the

final two days of the meet.