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

Tuesday, April 16, 2002 | 8:54 a.m.

Ralph Siraco's horse racing column appears Monday and his Southern California selections run Tuesday-Sunday.

Wednesday's card

1st Race -- FORTHELIFEOFME - Delahoussaye on Headley trainee, draws good box for short straight 2-furlong opener, rider addition says alot. VERMONTS FINEST - Draws inner post for dash, Garcia aboard Mayberry trainee, Vermonts may be Arcadia Finest. Value Play -- GARNET CROSS

2nd Race -- SENORA POPPY - Draws good post for turf mile, McCarron tacks McAnally trainee, bred for the trip. THUNDER ISLAND - Nakatani aboard Machowsky trainee, draws good box in maiden outing, Thunder set to strike for graduation? Value Play -- DELAVALLADE

3rd Race -- SAINT BERNADETTE - Draws good post for sprint allowance/claimer, McCarron on Headley trainee for owner Stronach Stables, house horse tough here. SEPTEMBER SECRET - P. Val on Machowsky trainee, needs prompt start and clean trip from rail post, September Secret out in April? Value Play -- FRUGALITY

4th Race -- SANDBOX - Gomez aboard Gaines trainee, draws good spot for mile maiden-claimer, graduation from Sandbox to classroom here? BECKHAM - Draws alongside top pick, McCarron aboard Gallagher trainee, solid connections for diploma try. Value Play -- GOLDEN HOURS

5th Race -- GREEN MINSTREL - French-bred draws good outer post for downhill run, Stevens scales Drysdale trainee for owner Stonerside Stables, beware. NO APPROVAL - Desormeaux on Dollace trainee, draws extreme outside post for allowance/claimer, might meet Approval here. Value Play -- SKYWRITING

6th Race -- KLEM - Hustling Espinoza aboard Cenicola trainee, draws good spot in Cal-bred sprint, should be a Klem graduation here. ATA SLEW - Baze aboard Burnison trainee, draws just inside top pick for maiden/claimer, a forward factor for diploma. Value Play -- IRISH KING

7th Race -- SKIPPING - British-bred training at Hollypark, Desormeaux on Frankel trainee for owner Juddmonte Farms, must overcome outside post in turf mile. SUANCES - British-bred is part of Red Baron's Barn-owned & Vienna-trained coupled entry with German-bred Ferrari, Flores here, Espinoza there, beware. Value Play -- BIG BOARD

8th Race -- JIM'S RELAUNCH - Draws good post for short sprint dash, Espinoza on Hess trainee, low level claimer provides competitive spot. WEATHERBUG - Part of JPF Investments,LLC-owned & Aguirre-trained coupled entry with Current Image, Baze here, Puglisi there, double nightcap threat. Value Play -- TECH TWO