IMHO, it's still too early to make a definitive statement on any of these artificial surfaces, but so far I like the cushion track at Hollywood a lot better than the Polytrack at Delmar (or anywhere else).

Poly changes the racing too much for my taste.

I know most speed handicappers don't respect Lava Man much (and I agree he wasn't as good as the best east coast horses these last few years), but it was sort of sad watching him struggle so soon in yesterday's race. That surface is TOUGH on quality speed and stalkers going long and a lot of horses simply do not like it. I'd like to see some stamina put back in the game, but I think a lot of the great speed horses of the last 30 years would have a tough time getting 10F-12F on that stuff.

Do we really want mostly even paced plodders with a lot of stamina winning all the classics?