Ralph Siraco’s selections for Saturday’s races at Del Mar

Friday, July 23, 1999 | 9:30 a.m.

Saturday's card

1ST RACE

Air Force Woman -- 3rd sprinting at higher level in last, 4-wide winner while claimed before that, in the quinella 5 of most recent 7 starts with a trio of victories, reunites with winning rider Gomez here.

Native Gold Digger - Won with confident handling by 6 lengths in last, runner up at Golden Gate before that, both career victories at this distance, winning rider Delahoussaye returns, needs clean trip from rail post.

Value Play -- Sister

2ND RACE

Iwishiwasindixie - 1st time starter by Desert Wine, steady works, nice most recent gate drill on the 9th, draws inner post, gets lasix, one of two Sise trainees in the field, Nakatani get debut call.

Kalihi Maggie - 1st time starter by Al Mamoon, another with good steady worktab, draws outside post, the "other" Sise trainee, Solis for debut, hidden entry angle.

Value Play -- Candy Stand

3RD RACE

Hollycombe - Dueled lead and drew clear to win comeback effort at 7 panels in last, steady handling to win career debut in only other lifetime start, stretches out now, McCarron stays on Gonzalez trainee, goes for lifetime hat trick.

National Saint - No rally from rail post in overnight stakes at Holllypark late May in last, won allowance outing before that, steady works with bullet 7-panel drill on the 10th since raced, Antley now for trainer Baffert.

Value Play -- Futural

4TH RACE

Central Lobby - Just missed when 2nd by a head at a mile on Hollypark lawn late May in last, won U. S. debut off layoff on Anita lawn at this trip four races back, freshened with solid swift works, draw good rail post, Desormeax/Frankel combo.

Rimsky Korsakov - Steadied at the start, got the lead and caught late when close 2nd in last, dueled lead and runner up before that---both on Hollypark lawn, draws good inner post here, McCarron returns on Shirreffs trainee.

Value Play -- The Smokster

5TH RACE

Jam N' Jelly - Speed and gave way while claimed in last, gate-to-wire winner before that, set pace and 3rd before that, both career victories from 5 starts at this distance, trainer Mitchell drops this one below claimed price for money run.

Little Ballerina - Stumbled at the start and eliminated from rail post in last, runner up before that off 9 month layoff, broke maiden at Del Mar last summer, draws rail again, Nakatani takes over for this, has speed to handle post position.

Value Play -- Imperial Topaz

6TH RACE

Magical Dragon - 1st time starter by Dispersal, solid works with bullet drill at Churchill Downs 6/14 and recent bullet gate drill at Anita on the 14th, 2nd best of 30 Del Mar works on the 20th, Flores/Baffert team.

Jellicle - 1st time starter by Bien Bien, steady series of works for debut, draws good post, Solis for sires connections, could get debut diploma trip here.

Value Play -- Morocco

7TH RACE

Ready And Willing - Game between foes while close runner up from outside post sprinting on Hollypark lawn off nine week layoff in last, 2-for-3 at this distance in prior four outings, has a Del Mar work since raced, had race, beware.

Queen's Court - Makes first start of the year with sizzling worktab for return, 3 bullet drills of most recent 5 moves, broke maiden at this distance and track last summer, Eddie D. for return, works say ready.

Value Play -- Heaven Came Down

8TH RACE

Fiji - Monster mare returns to races here, in the quinella 9 of 10 lifetime starts with 8 victories, 6-for-7 last year, however, only time she ever finished worse than second was over this course last year, McCarron takes over on Drysdale trainee, we'll give her another chance over seaside sod.

Sicy d' Alsace - Another who starts '99 campaign here, won first two U. S. starts with a consecutive pair of Graded victories over Del Mar turf, miscued in Grade I Keeneland stakes in October in last, solid swift works for return, reunites with winning rider Nakatani now.

Value Play -- Cyrillic

9TH RACE

Storm Dog - Dueled lead from between horses and held 2nd in last, tracked, dueled lead and close 3rd before that, runner up three races back, stretches out now, must overcome outside post, Pincay stays on Inda trainee.

Boss Ego - Set pace with clear lead and overtaken late when 2nd in last, 4-wide and just missed when 2nd by a head on Hollypark lawn three races back, draws good inner post, McCarron got to know him in last, may be boss here.

Value Play -- Pettroff

10TH RACE

Miss Traffic - Closed from rail post for 3rd in last, wide winner in comeback effort before that, all 3 career victories from 7 starts at this distance, draws inside post now, Gomez returns, a factor throughout in this spot.

Burch's Baby - Steadied twice and outrun while overmatched in last, claimed at higher level with no late bid before that, won at this level when claimed three races back, drops to action spot, Desormeaux takes over on Hess trainee.

Value Play -- Given the Nod