HOLLYWOOD UPDATE

 While the drive to Hollywood Park from Santa Anita is only 35 miles, the differences between the Los Angeles-area racetracks are greater than a simple crosstown jaunt.



After a long winter at Santa Anita, spring begins Thursday at Hollywood with reasons for optimism including a purse increase in claiming and starter-allowance levels, and a reduced takeout (14 percent) pick five wager. For handicappers, the initial adjustment is obvious.



“Different surface,” trainer John Sadler said, referring to the Cushion Track at Hollywood. “Last year, people regarded this as the best synthetic of the three.”



Make that two. A type of dirt was installed at Santa Anita, leaving Del Mar and Hollywood with the circuit’s only two synthetic surfaces. This spring, for the first time since 2007, a handicapping challenge is the switch from Santa Anita dirt to Hollywood synthetic.



“The advantage for us is we have the best racing surface in California,” Hollywood’s racing secretary, Martin Panza, said. “It’s a benefit to guys that stable here. I think they kept their horses much sounder over the winter.”

Read the full article at http://www.drf.com/news/hollywood-opens-reasons-be-optimistic