By Brian Mulligan

In this game, we all tend to over evaluate one performance and although one day is far from a level study or a season, let’s for just the sake of it take a look at where the winners came from on opening day Santa Anita.

The day after Christmas always brings hope for the equine faithful and this year was no different. On track attendance was a hip-hopping party at just fewer than 33,000 and sure, that is partly because of the event and partly because of the calendar give away, but it is still 33,000.

The fans collectively bet nearly $15 million on the card and the card was well subscribed and a good betting puzzle as the Pick Six paid nearly $190,000.

More importantly than the track numbers that basically helps the track and the horsemen, we must pay attention to how the synthetic surfaces have impacted the circuit and what may be in store for the future.

First off, after Bobby Frankel told everybody within earshot that Latent Heat was going to win the Malibu, all that runner did was get a perfect trip tracking from third, then draw away at a fat 5-1 to bring down the $150,000 winning portion of a $250,000 guaranteed purse.

Heat had trained just at Hollywood for the last 6 weeks.

In the HRTV interview after the race, Frankel was understated and mentioned that Latent Heat had a high white blood cell count after this dull Churchill Downs finale but had been working super. Stabled at Hollywood Park, as has been Frankel’s custom for years since he lives on that side of town, the trainer went on to mention that he couldn’t wait for Santa Anita to go to a synthetic surface. He said the horses stayed sounder and liked those surfaces better.

So how did the other horses that are based at Hollywood do on opening day at Anita? Well, the winner of the opener was 8^th in his Cushion Track debut, never worked on a track other than Hollypark, but pulled off a 14-1 shocker in the first.

The second half of the early double is really a non-issue since the race was on the hillside going short but the Anita based Storm Mate figured and prevailed.

In the third, Tenfold was a close 2^nd in the Inglewood debut, 4 of his 6 published works came at Anita, and he broke his maiden as the prohibitive chalk.

Fantasmin was cleverly placed out of claiming jail in the fourth and had his three recent drills on the Cushion Track. He got up in the nick of time to pay $19.

Coco Belle had shown promise last summer; she had worked steady and fast on the Cushion Track and graduated going away.

Pirates Deputy snapped a bout of seconditis getting up late after working fast exclusively at Anita for the comeback win.

The Sir Beaufort winner cashed on grass so the study is skewed, but he had trained strictly in Inglewood since shipping from back east.

In the nightcap Silk Kerchief was coming off a Cushion Track win but had three Anita drills under the girth before the repeat opening day.

To recap, of those races that were run on the main track, 5 of the 6 opening day winners either raced or worked on the Cushion prior to the Arcadia success.

Does this mean it’s Inglewood form only? Of course not. But considering what Hall of Famer Frankel said, one must be aware of the fact that those Hollypark shippers appear sound and fit and ready to do major damage this meet.

Stay tuned.