This is really a tough situation.
What I hear from people who work, train and ride on the track is that the track feels great and it definitely has a positive long range effect on the horses health.
That being said no one likes racing on it. The consistency, while softer then dirt is just not there.
From a handicapping perspective it has totally eliminated speed from your handicapping assessment. It also you leaves you guessing as to who will close the best, not who is the best horse. It has not been very fun to bet these races at any condition level. Maybe the best horses are winning but picking them is close to random.
Obviously Zayat hears from baffert how bad this stuff is. I also noticed John Sherriffs has not run many and elected to run AP Xcellent on the turf because speed is getting killed on poly routes. Its not good when the top barns decide to forgo Del Mar.
I said it before they ran they made a critical mistake installing Poly over the more versatile Cushion Track.
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