Ralph Siraco’s Selections For Del Mar

Tuesday, Sept. 9, 1997 | 2:30 a.m.

Wednesday's card

Selections made for clear racing conditions before scratches.

Post Time 2 p.m.

1st race 1 mi 3YO Fil Turf Clm

1 Hawk Baby (Blanc) 115

2 Haifa (Matos) 110

3 Castleisland (Garcia) 112

4 Pennywell (Black) 115

5 Weownitourselves (Vergara) 115

6 Stardust Serenade (Delahousy) 115

7 Dreamin Of Daisy (Garcia) 112

Pennywell -- English-import lands easy spot for U.S. debut, steady works at Del Mar, favored in last pair of starts with most recent close third and second win of seven lifetime starts before that, in the quinella four times, Black gets the call.

Stardust Serenade -- Sharp last race winner tries turf for the first time, won three of last four outings, has recent Del Mar grass work, continues up class ladder, Delahoussaye returns.

Value Play -- Haifa.

2nd race 6 fur 2YO Mdn Clm

1 Foreign Vengeance (Desormeaux) 118

2 Robie Creek (Stevens) 118

3 Doc Art (Stevens) 118

4 La Castelli (Matos) 113

5 Devil Dog Sixx (Garcia) 118

6 Blue Hornett (Blanc) 118

7 Houston Hero (Gonzalez) 111

8 Promissory Note (Scott) 118

9 Rojo Ladron (Valdivia) 118

10 Merclar (Berrio) 118

11 Heavenly Sum (Arias) 115

12 Awesome Knight (Pincay) 118

13 AE-Go Rusty Go (Enriquez) 118

14 AE-Hez A Keeper (Almeida) 118

15 AE-Corporate Hope (Solis) 118

16 AE-Big Bing (Garcia) 116

Foreign Vengeance -- Stalked and weakened in last, drops back to level of third-place finish before that, sharp works since raced, Desormeaux for trainer Harrington, needs clean trip from rail post.

Robie Creek -- Second in Idaho Juvenile Championship in last, runner-up in Trials before that, returns here with a trio of Del Mar works, competitively placed, gets Stevens for southland debut.

Value Play -- Doc Art.

3rd race 1 mi 3YO Stk

1 Batoile (Pincay) 119

2 Jail Break (Matos) 122

3 Pondero's Leader (Garcia) 115

4 Indiahoma (Garcia) 119

5 Adverse (Delahoussaye) 115

6 Steel Ruhlr (Espinoza) 115

7 Best Star (Desormeaux) 122

Best Star -- Restricted Stakes runner up in last for first career defeat, won three previous lifetime starts, two bullet works since raced, Desormeaux stays on for Baffert, will have to hustle early from outside post.

Steel Ruhlr -- Set pace and held stubbornly for close third on the turf in last, has faced the best of his generation, nice work since raced, makes third start back from freshening, Espinoza stays, has in-and-out form though.

Value Play -- Indiahoma.

4th race 6 fur 3YO&up F&M Mdn Clm

1 Main Gain (Blanc) 118

2 Forafella (Black) 118

3 Rendies Primavera (Arias) 116

4 Pasteret (Solis) 120

5 Balboa Betty (Desormeaux) 115

6 Kering One (Vergara) 122

7 Gudia (Matos) 115

8 Sultry Pirate (Garcia) 120

9 Patrona (Espinoza) 118

10 Natasha (St. Julien) 116

11 Ruhlmiss (Pincay) 118

12 Unpredictable Sky (Scott) 116

13 AE-Secret Bidder (Almeida) 122

14 AE-Arctic Dawn (Gonzalez) 111

Patrona -- Drops to claimer after pressing pace and fading as the favorite in last, fourth in prior pair of lifetime starts, steady works continue, makes second start for new trainer Canani, Espinoza takes over for graduation.

Balboa Betty -- Pressed pace and came back for second in last when in need of a race, in the money in prior six starts, gets better post, had race, Betty could be ready with Desormeaux returning.

Value Play -- Pasteret.

5th race 6-1/2 fur 3YO&up F&M Clm

1 Facen Up (Scott) 115

2 Breezing Zee (Matos) 112

3 Let's Drink Brunch (Stevens) 117

4 Slewby Dewby Dew (Vergara) 117

5 Gypsy Lullaby (Solis) 115

6 April Lass (Desormeaux) 117

7 Wesley's Delight (Berrio) 115

8 Red Headed Doll (Delahoussye) 117

9 Mirasqua (Pedroza) 117

10 Smooth Wine (Blanc) 117

April Lass -- Steadied then trailed at a mile in last, fifth in prior pair, drops below claimed level, returns to best distance, three of four lifetime victories of seven starts at this trip, Desormeaux aboard Hess trainee for jockey race.

Gypsy Lullaby -- Four-wide trip and close third as the favorite in last, runner up while claimed as the favorite before that, winless this year, but in the quinella five of seven overall Del Mar starts with a pair of victories, Solis aboard Mitchell trainee for jockey race.

Value Play -- Slewpy Dewby Dew.

6th race 1-1/16 mi 3YO&up Alw

1 Freedom To Fly (Blanc) 122

2 Sir Nibbles (Solis) 113

3 Sandy's Serenade (Pedroza) 113

4 Stalwart Tsu (Desormeaux) 113

5 Bepton (Pincay) 118

6 Nasrudin (Stevens) 119

7 Jadala (Sorenson) 117

Nasrudin -- Finished well with a bad ride for close second on Del Mar lawn in last, makes first dirt start here with new rider Stevens for trainer Mitchell, was gelded before last start, ready to make amends.

Sir Nibbles -- Five-wide runner up in last, dueled and weakened on the turf before that, Solis stays, trainer seldom wins, but this one is well spotted to get scarce victory.

Value Play -- Sandy's Serenade.

7th race 1 mi 3YO&up Turf

1 Skywalker's Choice (Stevens) 113

2 Naninja (McCarron) 116

3 Flick (Desormeaux) 115

4 Millkom (Blanc) 113

5 Dreamer (Delahoussaye) 116

6 Magellan (Black) 116

7 Sandtrap (Solis) 117

8 Warning Time (Almeida) 114

Handicapping for races 7, 8 and 9 are unavailable due to faulty transmission from the Daily Racing Form.

8th race 7 fur 2YO

1 Tryumphant (Black) 115

2 Yarrow Drae (Day) 115

3 Commitisize (Desormeaux) 115

4 s-King Of The Wild (Delhousy) 115

5 Souvenir Copy (McCarron) 115

6 s-Old Topper (Solis) 119

7 Double Honor (Stevens) 119

8 Winged Express (Douglas) 115

9th race 1 mi 3YO&up Mdn Clm

1 Resident Poet (Pincay) 118

2 Macanudo (Douglas) 118

3 Whale's Tale (Delahoussaye) 116

4 Tax Deputy (Matos) 117

5 Bottle Of Rum (McCarron) 118

6 Butler On Duty (Vergara) 118

7 Another Verse (Black) 118

8 V For Victory (Martinez) 120

9 Gallahad (Scott) 118

10 King Clef (Solis) 118

11 T.V. Doubletime (Barnes) 110

12 Apieceofthepuzzle (Matos) 111

10th race 1 mi 3YO&up F&M Turf Clm

1 Blue Tuama (Desormeaux) 117

2 Miss Excitement (Matos) 112

3 Miss Kyama (Delahoussaye) 116

4 Our Golden Promise (Barber) 112

5 Kiss Of Fire (McCarron) 114

6 Princess Efisio (Solis) 114

7 R Affair (Pincay) 117

8 Hear The Music (Stevens) 117

9 Tejano's Pride (Blanc) 117

Kiss Of Fire -- Finished well to just miss while second by a neck in last, wide rally close runner up before that, McCarron now scales for obscure trainer, in the quinella five of a dozen career starts, kiss Del Mar goodbye with victory.

Miss Excitement -- Set pace and just missed by a nose while second in last when in need of a race, turf winner at the trip three races back, bug boy Matos returns, may be elusive target here, bounce a concern.

Value Play -- Hear The Music.