The synthetic all-weather training track installed at Santa Anita last March demonstrated its value during the rainy onset of the 2025-2026 racing season. Since December 23, Santa Anita has received over 9 inches of rain, with more showers on Sunday before a sunny forecast. Numerous rainstorms led to multiple race day cancellations and limited training to the main dirt track. However, the $8 million Tapeta scaffold-based all-weather track allowed training to continue with minimal disruption.
On Saturday, despite the wet conditions, 69 horses completed high-speed workouts on the synthetic track, including all three of trainer Phil D’Amato’s stakes contenders preparing for Thursday’s Robert J. Frankel Stakes (G3) and Eddie Logan Stakes. D’Amato’s two horses expected to compete in the turf 1 1/8-mile Frankel race for older fillies—public favorites Public Assembly and Son of Hill—each completed five furlongs on Saturday. Irisatch, slated for the turf mile Eddie Logan, also had a strong five-furlong workout.
D’Amato emphasized the track’s significance, stating, “Given California’s regulations, I don’t think we could manage without it. They’ve done an excellent job maintaining it, making it a tremendous advantage for horse racing in California.”
On Sunday, while the main track remained closed, several horses prepping for upcoming stakes races still managed timed workouts on the training track. Explorer, the anticipated favorite for Saturday’s Santa Ynez Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, ran five furlongs in one minute under trainer Bob Baffert, who also has Beautan, Desert Gate, and Greenwich Village entered in Saturday’s GII San Vicente, a seven-furlong race for 3-year-olds. Additionally, Himika is set to compete in the Las Flores Stakes (G3) next Sunday.
Other Sunday’s trainees included Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) champion Super Corredora and G1 winner Furserano, both trained by John Sadler. Super Corredora, named a finalist for the Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old filly, clocked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds with plans to target the Las Virgenes Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at one mile on February 1. Furserano posted six furlongs in 1:13.20 and might run in the Jan. 31 San Pasqual Stakes (G2), according to Sadler.
A total of 174 workouts took place on Sunday’s synthetic track despite the rainy weather.
Fan Take: This all-weather training track is a game changer, allowing trainers to maintain crucial workouts even during heavy rain, which helps keep horses race-ready and fans excited. Its success could encourage other tracks to invest in similar technology, improving the sport’s resilience and consistency across the industry.
