US Racing / Nick Shiambouros / 18 January 2008 /

Nick Shiambouros looks at the 'solution' to the Santa Anita drainage problems, the ins-and-outs of last weeks' racing and gives us his runners to look out for in the week ahead

The continuing problems of Santa Anita took a step in a different direction this week with a temporary solution to the drainage problems of the Cushion Track surface. It appears that Ian Pearse, the founder of Pro-Ride synthetic surface in Australia, in conjunction with the University Of Southern California has come up with a polymer binding material mixture to add to the surface to help the drainage. According to track president Ron Charles, this process would take four days to complete and the track will have to apply for more dates to cover these very valuable missed days.

Commenting on the tests that have taken place in producing this binding agent he said they were, "dramatic and extremely encouraging", which in my opinion is a desperate measure of a man fighting to save his job. Racing has resumed at Santa Anita temporarily but the surface has received some very mixed criticism from trainers and jockeys alike.

When racing resumed last week Massive Drama could only finish third to a brilliant El Gato Malo who destroyed this quality field in a romp. This was a smart effort and I will be keeping a firm eye on his next engagement.

On Sunday, Oaks favourite Indian Blessing gave odds on backers a real scare when holding on by a whisker in The Santa Ynez, also at Santa Anita. Perhaps this race came a little to soon after her Breeder's Cup victory at Monmouth. She was sent off at 1.1 but was available at 1.25 on the exchange.

Over at The Fairgrounds our selections Blackberry Road and Mad Flatter finished second and third to Z Fortune in The Lecomte. This was a pleasing effort in a warm race and I think that there is a bit more to come from this horse.

At Gulfstream Park my fingers were burnt by the disappointing display of Lovely Isle who never looked comfortable on the lead and folded tamely to finish down the field behind Game Face, who clearly benefited of the fast pace to win going away.

This weekend signals the start of the meeting at Oaklawn Park and the 2008 season really kicks in to gear. In the American Beauty Stakes on Saturday I will be backing Classify and I think she will be very hard to beat in this contest. I am hoping for around 2.0 and will be shopping early for this price.

Over at Santa Anita on the same day another horse I am keen on is Champs Elysees in the San Marcos Stakes run over 10 furlongs on the turf. I think the opposition is stiff, including Medici Code and Obrigado, so am hoping for around 3.0 for the win. Ramzutti is an interesting runner and could be a lively outsider. I really hope the rain stays away and this race goes ahead so fingers crossed.

Finally the Eclipse Awards in Beverly Hills take place on Monday and it is really the Oscars of thoroughbred racing. In the category "NTRA Moment of the Year" the brilliant victory of Rags to Riches has been selected and on Monday this moment will be honoured. For me the "moment of the year" is the decision by the owners of both Rags To Riches and Curlin to stay in training as four year olds. Both sets of owners need to be recognised for this sporting gesture as the only winners will be the true racing fans who show up to see races like The Belmont Stakes and The Breeder's Cup Classic, who will benefit from a decision that may see these two champions take each other on again later this year. I am already counting the days.

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