After last yr's BC, West Coast jockeys took the position that the AP turf course should have been listed as yielding rather than firm. This yr a fair amount has been written regarding how the hard SA turf course has favored speed, but it was aerated & watered this week, which will presumably soften it up some. Seeing how it plays over the next few days might be a worthwhile expenditure of time. Temperatures near 100 early this week has a number of people talking about which horses have or are showing signs of developing their "winter coat." From what I understand, that depends as much on light as weather, so by putting a blanket over the horse & turning on certain lights in the stall a trainer pointing to the BC could pretty much avoid the problem. Despite having heard just the opposite in prior yrs when the BC was run at a warm weather venues, I am advised now that for the kind of weather expected Sat., a winter coat and/or partial winter coat might compromise a horse's chances a little bit, with the emphasis on little.