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

Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2000 | 10:18 a.m.

Thursday's races

1st Race -- Da Hot Affair - Hustling Espinoza on Mitchell trainee, good post, well placed, Da Hot could be too hot here. Kristen - Draws inside for the opener sprint, hustling bug boy Cedeno here, need clean trip after prompt start for chance to win. Value Play -- Tuta Niche

2nd Race -- The Denver Dream - Trainer Craig Dollace tabs bug boy Baze here, draws good middle post, the Dream is for Denver diploma here. Raise a Storm - Pincay scales Ward trainee, draws extreme outside post here, Storm needs to Raise a rally for diploma. Value Play -- Cinnabar Hills

3rd Race -- Divine Spirit - Espinoza on this Baffert trainee, draws good post, takes next step through conditions. Mr Freckles - Sorenson again on Harrington trainee, draws just outside top pick, the main factor here. Value Play -- The Station

4th Race -- Fashion Control - Solis aboard Hendricks trainee for owner Wygods, needs prompt start and clean trip from inner post, connections right. Labellelavita - Draws outside post for the sprint distance, McCarron on Sahadi trainee, another team to respect here. Value Play -- Con Spirito

5th Race -- King Clef - Desormeaux aboard Cerin trainee, fits this spot well, needs to overcome outside post for the turf route, good spot for action. Fastasaspeednbulit - Solis scales Carava trainee, another who fits this heat well, draws just outside top pick, so, post is concern here, too. Value Play -- Alert To Go

6th Race -- Bienfeo - Hard knocker at this level, Gomez aboard Hess trainee, draws good post, should be a late factor here. Keepscratching - Draws just outside top pick, Solis on Truman trainee, good spot for action. Value Play -- Mr. Fortune

7th Race -- Follow the Money - Scratched out recently for this, draws good rail post for the turf route feature, McCarron on Hofmans trainee, Follow him for the Money. Zante - British-bred runner has right connections, Desormeaux aboard Frankel trainee for Juddmonte Farms, should we say any more? Value Play -- Aliena

8th Race -- Meteor Game - Desormeaux on Dutton trainee, draws good post, clean break could yield nightcap diploma. Sierras Kiara - Solis on Summer Mayberry-owned and trained runner, needs sharp start from outside post at short dash distance, hmmmm. Value Play -- Dawaytogold