Santa Anita decides on new track

After much deliberation, Santa Anita has decided to install basically the same synthetic surface in place at Hollywood Park.

The Arcadia track announced Wednesday that it has contracted with the English company that produces Cushion Track to begin installation soon on the new surface. The projected cost is between $8 million and $10 million.

The California Horse Racing Board mandated last year that all major California tracks had to have a synthetic surface in place by the end of 2007.

Santa Anita President Ron Charles said the target date for completion of Cushion Track, which is composed of silica sand mixed with synthetic fibers, elastic fibers, granulated rubber and coated with a blend of wax, is the first week of September.

The Oak Tree meet begins Sept. 26.

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After there were no winners in the pick six last weekend at Hollywood Park, there were 98 perfect tickets Wednesday worth $29,775 apiece.

Chasing a carry-over of $850,466, bettors wagered $3,745,697 on Wednesday, creating a total pool of $4,596,163. Consolations with five of six winners paid $218.

-- Bob Mieszerski

JURISPRUDENCE

Bengals’ Henry passed recent drug screenings

Suspended Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry has passed his drug screenings, a Kentucky prosecutor and an attorney for the player said.

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The trial of DeAnthony Norman Ford, the man accused of fatally shooting USC basketball player Ryan Francis, has been continued to Aug. 13 in Baton Rouge, La. It had been scheduled to begin June 11. Ford faces a mandatory sentence of life without parole if convicted of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.

-- Ben Bolch

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The family of slain Miami Hurricanes football player Bryan Pata will get $2 million from the insurance companies of the apartment complex where he was murdered, family attorneys said.

TENNIS

Venus Williams loses in French Open tuneup

Venus Williams failed to reach the quarterfinals in her final tournament before the French Open, losing to Aravane Rezai, 6-4, 6-4, at the Istanbul Cup in Turkey. Rezai will play Meghann Shaughnessy in a quarterfinal match.

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Second-seeded Andy Roddick defeated Kristian Pless, 6-4, 6-3, to advance to the quarterfinals of the Hypo Group International at Poertschach, Austria.

MISCELLANY

UCLA climbs to second at NCAA golf event

UCLA’s women’s golf team, led by sophomore Tiffany Joh’s two-under-par 70, shot a three-over 291 to move into second place in the NCAA golf championships at Daytona Beach, Fla.

The Bruins trail Duke by seven strokes entering today’s third round. USC (306), which led after the first round, fell to fifth and trails Duke by 14 strokes.

Joh is tied for third in the individual competition and USC’s Paola Moreno is tied for eighth after shooting an even-par 72. First-round leader Selanee Henderson of Irvine fell into a tie for 14th after shooting an 80. Also tied for 14th with Henderson at 149 are UCLA’s Ryann O’Toole (71) and Hannah Jun (74), and Pepperdine’s Misun Cho (74).

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Emirates Team New Zealand beat Desafio Espanol at Valencia, Spain, to advance to the Louis Vuitton Cup final against Luna Rossa of Italy.

The Kiwis took the best-of-nine semifinals series, 5-2.

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Point guard Brandon Jennings, who committed to USC in November and then opened up his recruiting last month, says he plans to attend Arizona. The 6-foot-1 standout from Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy took an unofficial visit to Tucson earlier this week and said he liked Arizona’s tradition and history of producing top-notch point guards. A senior next fall, he cannot sign a binding letter of intent until November.

-- Ben Bolch

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Washington State women’s basketball Coach June Daugherty, 50, was upgraded from critical to serious condition, a day after going into cardiac arrest while at a medical clinic for a checkup.