by Larry Stewart

The new Pro-Ride synthetic surface at Santa Anita Park was tested in a live race for the first time on opening day of the Oak Tree meeting on Wednesday and passed with flying colors.

Rafael Bejarano, the leading rider at Santa Anita's winter-spring meet, picked up where he left off guiding two-year-old filly Costa Marta to a 3 1/2-length win as the 7-to-10 favorite.

After the race, Bejarano was asked to give the track a grade.

"I'd give it an A," Bejarano said after pausing to think for a moment.

Joe Talamo, who rode fourth-place finisher Heatology, also was asked for his opinion of the surface.

"I don't want to say too much after only one race, but I'd give it an A," he said. "It felt great. I thought the fractions were very realistic."

Heatology set an uncontested pace through fractions of :22.27 and :45.34 through a half-mile. Costa Marta's winning time for 6 1/2 furlongs was 1:16.59.

"It's not a speed track," Talamo said. "It's slower than it was a year ago."

Santa Anita will host the Breeders' Cup World Championships on October 24-25. Bejarano agreed that the surface felt different than the synthetic Cushion Track surface Santa Anita had during the winter-spring meet.

"It's a little different,” Bejarano said. “It's softer than the Cushion Track."

Santa Anita President Ron Charles was beaming after taking his own survey of the jockeys who rode in the first race.

"They're all raving about it," Charles said.

David Flores, Tyler Baze, and Michael Baze were others riders who offered positive comments.

Larry Stewart is a California-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent