DEL MAR -- There was a time when your local neighborhood satellite wagering facility was the place to be if you wanted play the ponies.

But since the advent of advance deposit wagering (ADW) in California, staying home and betting the thoroughbreds by phone or computer has become the preferred method for most bettors not at a live meet.

George Bradvica is trying to change that at Del Mar's Surfside Race Place.

The 53-year-old Bradvica is the new general manager of the facility, located in the parking lot of the fairgrounds and next to the horse arena.

He is bringing a new enthusiasm to the betting parlor and hopes to bring new people to Del Mar, or maybe some old friends back.

"The uniqueness and special ways is going to set us apart from any other facility out there," Bradvica said this week. "I'm here to create a new demand for Surfside."

And Bradvica might be the man to do it.

He is well known throughout the Southern California horse racing community. He worked at Fairplex Park in Pomona for 20 years before beginning his new job Nov. 27. Most recently he was the equine director at Fairplex and had a hand in everything.

Now he has his hands full trying to breathe life into the off-track betting game.

Bradvica knows it will be tough, especially when fans can stay off the freeways and avoid betting lines while sitting in the comfort of their homes.

"I need to find a way to push the button of this tremendous market we have in San Diego," Bradvica said. "First, we have to communicate to them that we are here. That's a big thing that isn't happening. We have to let them know the atmosphere we have and the facility we have.

"Once they know we are here, they have to know that we will treat them right, not only from the amenities in the facility but our own staff. We have to make the facility a fun place to be, an entertaining place to be.

"We're looking for the entertainment dollar. Just like you can go to the movies and spend $50, you can come to Surfside and spend $50. It doesn't matter what your budget is and we want to create that place to be."

Toward that end, Bradvica is buying 20 new flat-screen televisions and borrowing other big TVs from the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. He has added handicapping seminars from the likes of Gordon Jones, Bob Ike and Tim Downs. He is making sure the food menu is fresh and changes every few months.

He is also making sure the Las Vegas-style theater with individual TVs is ready to go each day and that fans can hear the race calls.

"You need to see the race and listen to the race," Bradvica said. "We're doing a much better job of making sure we're catching the break. When a Santa Anita race begins and Trevor Denman says 'And away they go,' our customers are hearing 'And away they go.' They are not missing the break."

Ike, a Vista High graduate and well-known Southern California public handicapper, was impressed when he visited last month.

"The place looked a lot better," Ike said. "Everyone I crossed paths with was friendly. It's a nice facility and it should be drawing the crowds.

"I think George is the type of person who will put in the effort to reach out to the customers more than the previous management did."

Customers are first and foremost on Bradvica's mind every day.

"My No. 1 job out here is to talk to the customers and ask them the kind of things they want and the kind of things they want to see," he said. "It doesn't do me any good to sit in my office and pretend to know what the customer wants.

"They want to be recognized that we're serving their needs, and their needs are here to play the horses. Our speciality is horses. They want to know that we're going to provide them with a facility and information they want.

"The horse player/customer is very discriminating with what they want to see, and we're providing that service for them. We want to be a friendly place. They don't have to hassle with little things."

One of those hassles is parking and entry to the facility. Membership in the Diamond Club earns a patron free parking -- even when other events are happening on the fairgrounds -- and half-price admission ($2 instead of $4). Also, tracking of wagering with the Diamond Club gets bettors rewards at lower levels.

It's all part of Bradvica's plan to make Surfside the place to be.

"That's what satellite wagering is, a place to socialize," he said. "You can stay home, bet the races on your phone, but that isn't a very (social) exercise."

More Polytrack

In case you missed it this week, Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Ill., decided to become the latest track to join the Polytrack cult.

Arlington witnessed 22 fatal breakdowns last summer and came under heavy fire for its track surface before deciding to go synthetic, like Keeneland, Turfway Park, Woodbine and Del Mar.

However, there have been some red flags this winter at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky., as several dates have been canceled due to the track surface. The latest cancellation came after Thursday's second race.

Engineers are still trying to figure out the problems, but they could stem from the very cold winter.

Let's hope Del Mar's transition to the Polytrack world is seamless and safe.

The next big track to go synthetic will be Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. A final decision is expected before the end of its current meet in April. The betting line is that Santa Anita will select trainer Michael Dickinson's Tapeta Footings so that all three Southern California tracks will have a different surface (Hollywood Park has Cushion Track).

Finishing lines

Mac McBride has been named the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club's director of media. Seasonal employee Dan Smith has assumed the role of senior media supervisor. Visitors to the press box won't see any change because Smith is keeping his corner office. … Funeral services were held Wednesday for Kellie Cerin, wife of trainer Vladimir Cerin. Kellie Cerin died in a fall on Feb. 1 while on a family vacation in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. … Jockey David Cohen has left agent Nick Cosato, who now represents Michael Baze. Cohen has hired Jim Pegram to book his mounts. … Look for several of the top 4-year-olds in last weekend's Strub Stakes to take on Lava Man in the March 3 Santa Anita Handicap. Arson Squad, Brother Derek and Awesome Gem are all under consideration for the $1 million race. Strub runner-up Spring At Last is trained by Doug O'Neill, who also trains Lava Man, so look for Spring At Last to look elsewhere. Trainer Bob Baffert told track officials that Midnight Lute came out of the Strub "tired."

Contact staff writer Jeff Nahill at (760) 740-3550 or jnahill@nctimes.com.

Staff writer Jeff Nahill's Kentucky Derby Top 10 with morning-line odds from this weekend's Derby Future Pool:

1. Hard Spun&nbsp20-1

Undefeated Pennsylvania bred. Remind you of anyone (Hint: Smarty Pants)

2. Ravel&nbsp15-1

Impressive win last weekend at Santa Anita

3. Nobiz Like Shobiz&nbsp8-1

I don't pick chalk, but this guy was very good at Gulfstream.

4. Street Sense&nbsp12-1

That BC Juvenile curse is tough to overcome.

5. Belgravia&nbsp20-1

Patrick Biancone can train.

Today's selections

Staff writer Jeff Nahill's picks from selected stakes races around the nation today:

Santa Anita

Seventh race, Santa Maria Handicap (Grade I): 1. Ermine, 2. Sugar Shake, 3. Seafree. Long shot: Political Web.

Eighth race, Las Virgenes (Grade I): 1. Romance Is Diane, 2. Baroness Thatcher, 3. Runway Rosie. Long shot: Rags to Riches.

Aqueduct

Eighth race, Whirlaway: 1. Summer Doldrums, 2. Lawrence the Roman, 3. Brass Run. Long shot: Sports Town.

Gulfstream Park

Seventh race, Old Hat (Grade III): 1. Dream Rush, 2. Dreaming of Anna, 3. Secretsoftheheart. Long shot: You Asked.

Ninth race, Davona Dale (Grade II): 1. High Again, 2. Meditations, 3. Christmas Kid. Long shot: Post Invader.

Fair Grounds

Sixth race, Mineshaft Handicap (Grade III): 1. Welcome Again, 2. Master Command, 3. Patriot Act. Long shot: Sandburr.

Seventh race, Fair Grounds Breeders' Cup Handicap (Grade III): 1. Devilment, 2. Fort Prado, 3. Host. Long shot: Northern Scene.

Eighth race, Silverbulletday (Grade III): 1. Get Ready Bertie, 2. Dawn After Dawn, 3. Appealing Zophie. Long shot: Total.

Ninth race, Risen Star (Grade III): 1. Notional, 2. Circular Quay, 3. Teuflesberg. Long shot: Izzie's Halo.

Bob Ike's ready-to-win list

Gorthatfeeling&nbspJan. 31&nbspFirst race

First-time starter from Brian Koriner barn wound up second to stablemate but ran extremely well considering slow start.

Jealous Profit&nbspFeb. 3&nbspThird race

Comebacker from Doug O'Neill barn had been away since June but seemed ready to run a big race before being eliminated at 1/4-pole.

Margenot&nbspFeb. 2&nbspFifth race

Lightly-raced sophomore colt from Michael Machowsky barn had missed a little time since his debut win and was stretching out and trying two turns for the first time.

Onida&nbspFeb. 1&nbspFifth race

Sophomore filly from Carla Gaines stable ran very well when finishing second behind talented winner.

Strong Faith&nbspFeb. 4&nbspThird race

Darryl Vienna-trained mare had been facing much better and probably was best when dropping into this starter handicap spot. Overdue for a win.

Bob Ike, a Vista High graduate, is a public handicapper based in Southern California. Ike's graded handicap, premium selections and free pick of the day are available at www.bobikepicks.com. Ike's full ready-to-win list and e-mail notification service is available at www.trackexperts.com.