SANTA ANITA : Outlook Improves for Weekend Racing

Santa Anita prepared to resume racing today after canceling Wednesday’s and Thursday’s programs because of heavy rains.

Rainfall has measured about 11 inches since the 90-day meet began Dec. 26, track superintendent Steve Wood said, and about 1-1 1/2 inches of mud had to be pushed to the outside of the track’s main surface.

Several horses worked out on the sloppy training track in anticipation of Saturday’s three stakes--the $200,000 San Fernando, the 150,000 San Carlos Handicap and the $100,000 San Gorgonio Handicap, which has been switched to the dirt.

Strodes Creek, who will run with an entry-mate, Numerous, faces a tough group in the San Fernando, which also includes Wekiva Springs, Dramatic Gold, Dare And Go, Luthier Fever, Screaming Don and Turbo Fan.

Trishyde and five others--Forever Cindy, Vinista, Wende, Queens Court Queen and Starlight Way--are entered for the San Gorgonio.

The San Carlos, which wasn’t run last Sunday when jockeys said that Santa Anita’s sloppy track was unsafe, picked up some new contenders, most notably Bertrando. The rest of the field includes Cardmania, Softshoe Sure Shot, Letthebighossroll, Finder’s Fortune, Subtle Trouble, D’Hallevant, Polar Route, Kingdom Found, Famegame and Ferrara.