Selections for Thursday’s races at Santa Anita

Wednesday, Dec. 29, 1999 | 10:50 a.m.

By Ralph Siraco

1st Race -- Naughty N Haughty - Stalked and made 3-wide bid then weakened to 5th sprinting on Hollypark lawn in last, gate-to-wire winner before that, in the quinella 7 of 11 starts at this distance with 3 victories, Solis stays.

Sarcastic Humor - 3-wide 5th sprinting on Hollypark lawn in last, debut maiden breaker before that, needs to show debut speed from rail post here, adds blinkers and Desormeaux returns on Drysdale trainee.

Value Play -- Klassy Kit

2nd Race -- Sweet Ruhl - Dueled lead and weakened to 3rd in last, won at a mile over this track while claimed three races back, in the quinella 5 of 14 lifetime starts with a pair of victories, drops two levels here, P. Val. stays on Mitchell trainee.

Enter Smiling - Troubled trip when 7th in last, won at this level sprinting before that, 2-for-7 at Anita, drops back to competitive level, Nakatani takes over, good post and well placed.

Value Play -- Crafty Comment

3rd Race -- Heightenedawareness - Freshened with steady works since beating just three horses at Oak Tree in last, in the quinella 5 of half-dozen previous starts with a victory, Solis returns on Spawr trainee.

Road to Slew - Won Hollypark grass sprint in last, runner up sprinting when in need of a race before that, stretches out again for third starts since return, Pincay fits him well, draws good inside post, should be a factor throughout.

Value Play -- Cowboy Ballad

4th Race -- Bastion - Outrun in all four lifetime starts in straight maiden conditions, drops to claimer now, has shown speed in previous starts, should attend pace from inner post with hustling Pedroza who stays, may have found graduation level here.

Kinetic Band - Off slow and 4-wide from outside post while distant debut 3rd in last, draws outside post again, steady works since raced, Nakatani takes over on Van Berg trainee, prompt start could produce diploma.

Value Play -- Fancy High

5th Race -- Sierra Virgen - 3-wide trip, weakened after bleeding from the mouth in last, split field with decent 6th in Grade II Del Mar grass stakes before that, winless of 5 starts this year but 4-for-7 last year, McCarron sees enough to stay, so will we.

Cyrillic - Part of Frankel-trained entry with Zante, runner up in Grade II Hollypark grass stakes in last, runner up in Grade II turf stakes over this course at Oak Tree before that, in the quinella half of 8 starts this year with a pair of wins.

Value Play -- Pharellia

6th Race -- Flom's Chief - Dueled between horse and weakened in last, dueled and runner up three races back, drops another level here, speedster should be a factor throughout, trainer having steady year, jockey will hustle.

Racing Rita - Just up to break maiden by a head in last, 3rd in prior pair of lifetime starts, should stalk from outter post, Eddie D. stays on Stute trainee, well placed to come right back if pace is lively.

Value Play -- Acefromouterspace

7th Race -- Gibson County - Trainer Baffert has this race surrounded with TWO coupled entries, this one part of entry with Gator In Excess, won Bay Meadows stakes by daylight in last, broke maiden before that, swift works since, Flores here.

Stormy Jack - Part of SECOND Baffert-trained entry with Naughty Nacho, 3rd in Cal-Cup Juvenile at Oak Tree in last, runner up in Cal-Sires stakes before that, won prior pair of lifetime starts, P. Val. gets the call.

Value Play -- Grey Memo

8th Race -- Brigade - Runner up sprinting at Hollypark mid-November in last, split horses when debut 4th over this track at Oak Tree before that, steady Anita works since raced, Desormeaux takes over on Thoroughbred Corporation entry.

Climate - Just missed when 2nd by a neck sprinting at Hollypark in last, debut 4th before that, solid trio of works with a mile drill and 6-panel move since raced, draws good rail post, McCarron returns on Ellis trainee.

Value Play -- Kazan