Track looks like it may be a winner at Del Mar

Opening day at Del Mar on Wednesday, as usual, looked much like a fashion show, as 42,842 jammed the 70-year-old San Diego County racetrack.

The crowd was a record for opening day, but it fell short of the all-time mark of 44,181 for the 1996 Pacific Classic, when Cigar, going for a record 17th consecutive victory, lost to Dare And Go.

What was different about this opening day was the new $9-million Polytrack, which generally drew rave reviews.

“I think it is going to mean the revival of horse racing in California,” said veteran trainer Kathy Walsh of Arcadia, even though her horse, Vauquelin, won the third division of the featured Oceanside Stakes on the turf course.

“Give it a chance,” she said, referring to the new synthetic main track. “There are a lot of owners and trainers who do not like change and have strong opinions, but I think people are going to love it.”

The only casualty of the day came during that turf race, the seventh. Mayor Bozarth, trained by Bobby Frankel, suffered an injury to his left hind leg and had to be euthanized.

Ten A Penny, ridden by Michael Baze, won the first division of the Oceanside, which was run as the first race, and Knockout Artist, also ridden by Baze, won the second division, which was the fourth race.

Vauquelin, who went off as the second favorite behind Mayor Bozarth, paid $7.00 to win. Longshot Knockout Artist paid $40.60 and Ten A Penny $4.80.

The first race run on the new track was the second, a $53,000 six-furlong maiden affair for fillies and mares 3 years old and up bred in California.

Special Smoke, a filly trained by Ray Bell of Arcadia and ridden by Jon Court, will go into the record books as the first winner on the new track.

“I feel very privileged to win any race, but this is special because she is the first to win on this track,” Bell said.

Bell also raved about the track.

“Look at Jon,” he said, pointing over at the jockey. “I’ve never seen him that clean after a race. That tells me there wasn’t a problem with the kick back.”

He was referring to material being kicked up into a jockey’s face and silks from horses in front. And Court had a lot of opportunity to get dirty because Special Smoke was in the back of the pack on the backstretch.

Besides reporters complaining that it felt like walking on sticky cookie dough and it messed up their shoes, about the only complaint regarding the new track coming from trainers and jockeys was that it was slow.

Special Smoke’s winning time of 1:13.95 is about three seconds slower than a normal winning time for a six-furlong race on dirt.

But that didn’t concern Bell. “Time is only important when you’re in prison,” he said. “The important thing is that the horses stay sound.”

Reached on his cellphone later in the day, Bell said, “The track is showing no bias. It doesn’t seem to favor any horse whether that horse is in the front, the back or the middle of the pack. We saw favorites winning and longshots.”

Court, Special Smoke’s jockey, said, “The surface seems to provide an even playing field. Over a period of races, we’ll be able to tell more. I’m happy with it. It feels good. It’s equine friendly and the kick back is not severe. I’m glad we’re moving forward to a surface that will create soundness for the horse.”

Court also said the surface provides a smooth ride. “There is less jarring than on a traditional dirt track,” he said.

Special Smoke battled Freedom Summit down the stretch and held on to win by a half-length.

David Flores, Freedom Summit’s jockey, said, “I was the first loser on the surface. It feels good. We just have to adjust to it.”

Joe Harper, Del Mar’s chief executive, calling the day “a good party,” added: “Polytrack did what it was supposed to do. Even the jockeys who lost liked it. . . . It performed great.”

larry.stewart@latimes.com