GOLDEN GLIMPSES #64 GOLDEN GLIMPSES #64 PROBLEMS SURFACE, BUT TRACK LOOKS FOR IMPROVEMENTS
Finding a trainer who can't find fault with a racing surface happens rarely, about as often as Dick Vitale talks without using his hands.
But when the complainer is Bob Baffert, Santa Anita's leading trainer, it's news. Baffert recently went public, saying the track was so sandy, deep and cuppy, he was moving some of his horses to Churchill Downs after the Santa Anita Derby -- not major players, but horses like Argolid.
"They changed the track (surface)," Baffert said, opening a can of worms with the racing department, headed by Director of Racing Tom Robbins, racing secretary Tom Knust, and track superintendent Steve Wood.
They would have preferred Baffert had met with them privately to present his views. But that's another story.
"Baffert's been very successful here," said Knust. "When he says he talks to us and we don't respond, well, we're like every other track. We have a track man (Wood) and he cares for the surface. If a trainer has a problem, Wood investigates. If there isn't one, it's business as usual. If there is, he'll correct it.
"From October, during the Oak Tree meet, to the Santa Anita winter meet, we've had less injuries than ever before. With year-round racing like we have, you're always going to have problems. Right now, we're striving to see if there's a better surface available. We're looking at turf grids and a stabilizer (a stabilizing material). We've got 10 test plots up on the hill of all different materials.
"So we're not saying what we have is the best. We're saying what we have right now is the best we know. If there's something out there that's better, we want it. I know (track president) Cliff Goodrich is dedicated to having the best possible racing surface. If there's something better, Santa Anita will spend the money and get it.
"I think the times have been pretty consistent. Steve does add a little bit of sand every night to maintain, because the silt clay has a tendency to build up. But if he thinks it's getting too sandy, he'll stop, and from my understanding, he hasn't added any sand for two weeks. Wood tries to control the clods, and that's what he uses the sand for.
"Bob Baffert is a great trainer and he has a barn load of good horses. He supports us and runs a lot of horses, and if he's saying he has problems, I believe him. We'll just have to look at our track and see if there's something we can do to adjust. But as of right now, from what we know, Steve is doing a good job with the race track. If Baffert's had some problems, then we'll look into it."
No one is more caring, sensitive and concerned about the horses' well-being than Wood. He'd rather suffer an injury himself than see a horse hurt.
Perhaps the answer lies in an experimental surface presently on Hollywood Park's training track. Insiders are raving about the synthetic material mixed with sand, saying it is very kind to horses. The synthetic fibers hold a tremendous amount of water. Del Mar may be next to try it.
GOLDEN PICKS
JUST LOOKN -- Better judgment by Solis would have gained victory. Tab again versus $62,000 sprinting fillies.
MARSH GRASS -- Much the best going down the hill, but awkward start was the difference between victory and second.
WORLDLY WAYS -- Made racing debut with smashing victory on downhill turf course. Wally Dollase runner should have big future on grass.
THE HOMESTRETCH: A hearing before the stewards and a likely suspension await Corey Nakatani upon his return from rain-ravaged Dubai. Nakatani had a Rodman-like incident after finishing fifth on Bon Point in the San Luis Rey Stakes. Fellow rider Julio Garcia said Nakatani head-butted him, cutting the left side of his nose, which was still swollen three days later. Garcia finished seventh on 42-1 shot Big Sky Jim, and Nakatani reportedly accused Garcia of "trying to ride every horse in the race." Daily Racing Form's official comments on the race noted Bon Point "was boxed in between rivals into the stretch, split rivals nearing mid stretch . . . but was out finished." Said senior steward Pete Pedersen: "We could have had the hearing the night before he left, but it was in the heat of battle, and we didn't have all the information. But there are witnesses." Garcia seemed to feel as bad for Nakatani as he did for himself. Still, he said he had filed a complaint against Nakatani with the Arcadia Police Department. "He cursed me out and he hurt my feelings," Garcia said, "but I'm a good guy. I didn't want to fight with him. I wanted to talk about it. I watched a replay of the race and I didn't see anything. Sometimes there's no room, and a jockey has to wait. Maybe he was mad because he didn't win the race.". . . If Chris McCarron is up to it and gets his doctor's OK, he could ride this weekend despite suffering three cracked ribs when he was tossed from Inexcessivelygood, who broke down while running second in deep stretch in the Jim Beam Stakes. "He sounds real good," agent Scott McClellan said of his Hall of Fame rider, who was scheduled to see his doctor on Monday. "Best-case scenario, he could be back this weekend, or it could be two weeks to a month," McClellan said . . . Laffit Pincay Jr. will be out at least a month with three fractured ribs and a hairline fracture of his pelvis suffered when his mount, Strawberry Patch, broke his left foreleg on March 26. "His pelvis is bothering him more than his ribs," said his son, Laffit III, press box steward at Santa Anita. "But he's pretty comfortable otherwise. I brought his dinner to the hospital, chicken and rice, like always, only bigger portions." Pincay, 50, is the winningest active jockey with 8,522 victories. Strawberry Patch was trained by 86-year-old Noble Threewitt. Between them, Pincay and Threewitt represent 136 years . . . We hear: trainer Jenine Sahadi and former trainer Julio Canani, a long-time item, are splitsville. New beau: trainer Ben Cecil . . . What do Bill Mott, Charlie Whittingham, Ron McAnally, Gary Jones, Bob Baffert and now Richard Mandella have in common? All once trained for the fickle Thoroughbred Corporation. "One thing you could count on with them," said Baffert, "if you sent a horse to the farm, you'd never get it back." Translation: It would be sent to another trainer . . . Add Golden winners: Classic Credential, back-to-back at $7.60 and $4.60, and on his way to the Santa Anita Derby; Top Glory ($4).
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