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

Friday, Aug. 4, 2000 | 9:28 a.m.

Saturday's card

1st Race -- Tasket Basket - Desormeaux/Hess team, draws good outside post for the sprint opener, put all winning eggs in Tasket's Basket. Marvelous - Draws just inside top pick, Espinoza on Lynch trainee, should be a factor throughout. Value Play -- Sparquita

2nd Race -- Del Mar Flag - Part of Ed & Natalie Friendly-owned coupled entry with A Real Knockout, draws good post, Flores aboard this one, two-pronged threat. Mabel Kent - Solis aboard Jory trainee, needs a prompt start and clean trip from inside post in the short dash, maybe Mabel? Value Play -- Shahla

3rd Race -- Six Zero - Solis scales Frankel trainee for another turf route outing, draws good post, respect connections in this type of spot. Sardaukar - British-bred runner draws good rail post, hustling Espinoza gets the call from trainer Canani here, should get the trip. Value Play -- Motto

4th Race -- Racene - Nakatani returns to scale this Inda trainee, draws good post, bred well, Racene may be the best race-er here. Common Hope - Draws just inside top pick in outside tier, Flores aboard Canani trainee for owners Wygod, respect connections. Value Play -- American Jewel

5th Race -- Victoire - Hustling Pedroza on Abrams trainee, draws good middle post for this sprint outing, good spot for action. Miss Special Style - Nakatani aboard Mitchell trainee, conditioner off to good seaside start, jockey trying to rebound after mishap, hmmmm. Value Play -- Vera Icy Lady

6th Race -- The Count - Baffert baby gets Nakatani, needs clean trip and prompt start from rail post for the short dash, potent connections here. Qawaqeb - One of barn full of royally bred Godolphin stable babies, draws good post, blinkers and Espinoza on. Value Play -- Swift Terms

7th Race -- Sea Colony - Espinoza stays with this one, to main track here, drawn well and good spot for action. Jimmy Z - Solis on McAnally trainee, another who is in interesting spot here, must, however, overcome outside post. Value Play -- Alyaxy

8th Race -- Velvet Morning - Back on grass, draws good inside post for the mile turf feature, Desormeaux on Frankel trainee, all systems go. Torgau - Irish-bred runner to try Del Mar sod, McCarron scales Sahadi trainee, must overcome extreme outside post though. Value Play -- Uncharted Haven

9th Race -- Good Actor - Draws good post and is well placed here, Take on Greenman trainee, good spot for Actor action. Honesty Pays - Draws just outside top pick, Solis aboard Sadler trainee, another who fits this well, nasal strip again. Value Play -- Overbidagain

10th Race -- Dorcheat Bid - Team of jockey Pedroza and trainer Carava again, should be part of the pace throughout, may be elusive target here. Musical Spirit - Draws good rail post for the route finale, Flores on Monteleone trainee, should be in striking distance throughout. Value Play -- Mr. Seafarer