Ralph Siraco’s selections for Saturday’s races at Santa Anita

Friday, Oct. 15, 1999 | 8:57 a.m.

Saturday's card

1st Race -- Amber's Cup - Broke sharp from rail post, dueled lead and weakened late to be 4th in last, eliminated at the start in debut before that, draws rail again, P. Val. now, graduation for Cup. Nephrite Mountains - 1st time starter by Bertrando, steady worktab for debut, draws outside post, gets first time lasix and Black, bred to win early. Value Play -- Ceemenowceeyalater

2nd Race -- Central Lobby - Set pace from rail post and weakened late routing in last, stalked, bid and outkicked for 2nd before that, should appreciate downhill run here, blinkers off and Nakatani on Frankel trainee. Spinelessjellyfish - 4-wide loomed up and weakened when 2nd first time around two-turns in last, won comeback late-July three races back, bred to love the lawn, Stevens takes over on Sahadi trainee. Value Play -- Oysters

3rd Race -- Suzie Snoop - 4-wide and distant 4th in state-bred stakes at Fairplex in last, won sprint for claimer before that, weakened while overmatched in only turf outing sprinting at Hollypark three races back, fits here and P. Val. now. Princess Candi - Stalked 3-wide and weakened to 3rd in last, won half of a dozen starts this year, had changed barns through claims four times this year, 2-for-4 at this distance, reunites with winning rider Espinoza here. Value Play -- Wine With Pride

4th Race -- Greedy Gal - Close throughout when runner up at Bay Meadows in last, returns south with another bullet drill since raced, reunites with hustling Pedroza who was aboard for maiden breaker, versatility is a plus. Song of Summer - Distant 5th with wide trip in state-bred stakes at Fairplex in last, second best in 7-panel Del Mar outing before that, broke maiden at Anita and gets that rider Gomez back here, needs honest pace to run at in this. Value Play -- Raise A. Daisy

5th Race -- Dixie Dot Com - Got tightener in Bay Meadows stakes sprint from the rail when 4th in last, set pace and held game solid 2nd in Grade I Hollypark Derby in only career turf start, in the quinella 8 of 10 lifetime starts with 5 victories, ticket to Breeders' Cup Mile on the line. Brave Act - Hard knocking turf specialist stalked and outfinished when 4th in Grade I Eddie Read 'Cap on Del Mar sod in last, in the quinella 16 of 21 lifetime turf starts with 10 victories and in all 4 starts on Anita lawn with a trio of wins, draws good rail post and McCarron returns on McAnally trainee. Value Play -- Silic

6th Race -- Testimony - Dueled lead, inched away and caught late when runner up while claimed back by trainer Carava in last, 8 of 11 lifetime victories from 19 Anita starts, Pincay takes over, tough target if he doesn't bounce. Boy Chick - Fell when impeded at Fairplex in last, 3rd before that, half of 8 lifetime starts at this distance and at Anita, pair of works since fall, drops back to competitive level here, last victory with Vergara aboard who returns here. Value Play -- Over Houston

7th Race -- Chertly - Returns to races off one-year vacation, solid swift worktab, in the money in all 5 lifetime starts with a pair of victories, bred to like the lawn and downhill distance should suit comeback attempt, Flores takes over. Euchre - Another who returns to races here, even 4th at Saratoga late-August in last, 3rd in prior pair of outings, broke maiden routing at Hollypark, tries turf for return and dons blinkers, owned by new Santa Anita owner. Value Play -- Bottle of Rum

8th Race -- Old Trieste - Bobbled at the start and outkicked when 3rd in Del Mar BC 'Cap in comeback in last, won prior four outings---all Graded events, sharp works since raced with most recent move a bullet drill, McCarron stays here, Breeders' Cup Classic berth at stake. General Challenge - Sophomore sensation beat older horses in Grade I Pacific Classic in last, in the quinella 7 of 9 career starts with a half-dozen victories and 3-for-3 at Anita that included Grade I Santa Anita Derby early-April, swift works since raced, Flores /Baffert team, another who punches ticket to Breeders' Cup. Value Play -- Hollycombe

9th Race -- The Key Rainbow - Vehicle for Kent Desormeaux injury vacation when he fell on Del Mar lawn early September in last, in the quinella 16 of 33 lifetime starts with 3 of 5 victories from 5 starts over this course, Nakatani takes over. Isle of Man - Set pace and caught late when 2nd by a neck at Del Mar in last, stalked, bid and close 3rd before that, makes third start back here, draws good inside post, Black back on Lukas trainee, a factor thoughout. Value Play -- Butler On Duty