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

Wednesday, Sept. 1, 1999 | 9:03 a.m.

Thursday's card

1ST RACE

Santa Fe Express - Pressed early while 3 wide and held 3rd sprinting in last, 4th at same before that when in need of an outing, in the quinella 19 of 43 lifetime starts with 8 victories, draws rail and drops two levels for third start back. Frantic Frances - Settled early, made bid 2 wide and finished even 3rd at a mile off bullet drills in last, maintenance work since raced, draws inside again, Pincay returns, may trip out in this spot. Value Play -- Luckyisforever

2ND RACE

Montjoy - Old class horse coming around again, 3 wide decent 3rd in last, 2-for-6 this year, nice 6-panel work since raced, fits this level, Valdivia was aboard for last pair of victories, needed last, beware. Porbandar - Late run for closing runner-up over the course in last, closing 3rd before that, makes third start since return here, 3 of 4 lifetime victories from 9 starts at this distance, Flores stays on Drysdale trainee. Value Play -- Starmaniac

3RD RACE

Prized Friend - Stalked and best-of-the-rest debut 3rd in last, pair of nice works since raced, draws inner post now, returns with state-breds, Nakatani stays for brother-in-law trainer Dollace, race experience now, graduation at hand. Deposit On Top - Outrun by top pick from inside post in last, 3rd before that and lifetime best 3rd four races back, adds blinkers now with solid most recent 6-panel gate drill on 8/28, Solis takes over on McAnally trainee, very interesting. Value Play -- Colorswiththewind

4TH RACE

Orca Bay - Avoided fallen horse and rider to post an off-the-pace win at higher level in last, both career victories from 4 Del Mar starts, nice breeze since raced, trainer Abrams drops off the win, looks to repeat before leaving seaside. Memo This - Part of entry with Crimson Prospect, up in final strides to win while claimed in last, 2-for-2 at Del Mar with both lifetime victories, 3rd-of-51 on worktab in most recent move on 8/28, drawback is cold connections. Value Play -- Khal Me Chewy

5TH RACE

Prospectheus - Made 4-wide bid and closed well while splitting the field with close 5th in last, split foes and closed fast to just miss when 2nd by a head before that, McCarron stays on Mandella trainee, good inner post, ready to win. Stanton Harcourt - Freshened since Hollypark outings, in the quinella 3 of most recent 5 starts with a gate-to-wire grass win late-April three races back, in the quinella 8 of 22 lifetime turf starts with 5 victories, proven winner off-the-shelf. Value Play -- Outstanding Hero

6TH RACE

Tenino - Returns to southland off early-May Golden Gate victory, won at Del Mar last year to spark back-to-back victories with second win at Golden Gate, now reverses trend with first win at Golden Gate for possible back-to-back at seaside here. Copelan's Eagle - Waited when 3rd in last while claimed for the third time in a row, in the quinella in prior trio of outings with a pair of wins, now in barn of hot trainer Hess and Desormeaux takes over, a factor throughout. Value Play -- Lil A.J.

7TH RACE

Sierra Virgen - Waited to split foes then rallied for runner up at this trip and course in last, 3rd at a mile on Hollypark lawn in comeback effort before that, 4-for-7 last year, makes third start since layoff now, strange jockey change to Steiner for trainer Lukas here. Vyatka - Brazilian import was 4-wide and won for second time since invading U.S. back in February with score over top pick at this trip and course in last, draws rail post and Solis again, Mandella trainee has won back-to-back several times before. Value Play -- Celibataire

8TH RACE

Continental Coquet - First-time starter by Fllying Continental, started preparation working in Northern California then shipped to Del Mar for most recent pair of drills, well placed and good post, trainer Severinsen tabs Black for debut. Afraidofrain - Raced wide, led late then caught at the wire when just missed while 2nd by a nose in last, 3rd in prior pair of lifetime outings, makes second start for a tag here, Nakatani takes over on beaten favorite. Value Play -- Bodas De Oro/Entry