Ralph Siraco’s selections for Friday’s races at Hollywood Park

Thursday, May 9, 2002 | 8:53 a.m.

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

Friday's card

1st Race -- STERLING WISDOM - Draws good post for route opener, Valdivia aboard Hendricks trainee for owners Wygod, Wisdom is in Sterling graduation here. STANDARD CHOICE - Hustling Espinoza atop Sadler trainee, draws good rail post for maiden/claimer, adds blinkers for this. Value Play -- SMOKE DANCER

2nd Race -- KEEP THE SILVER - British-bred training at Santa Anita, Flores on Vienna trainee for owner Red Baron's Barn, LLC, Keep The Silver and give him gold. SOMBRIO - Espinoza on another Sadler trainee for owner Granja Vista Del Rio Stable, draws outside in small field at turf dash claimer, well spotted. Value Play -- RAINMAN'S REQUEST

3rd Race -- YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN - Desormeaux aboard Hollendorfer trainee for owner Englander, needs prompt start from inner post at sprint distance, risk ur-own. HELLO RUFFIE - Training at Santa Anita, P. Val on Bernstein trainee, another that needs prompt begining from inside post for starter allowance outing.Value Play -- X SLEWS ME

4th Race -- MONEYBEA - Hustling bug boy Krigger sits Garcia trainee, daws good middle post for full field going sprint distance, Money-be-a in diploma. RUNAWAYFUN - Draws alongside top pick for maiden/claimer, hustling bug boy Trujillo here for trainer Cerin, all bug boy quinella at hand? Value Play -- HOUSTON LAUNCH

5th Race -- ARMSTRONG - German-bred draws good middle post here, bug boy Krigger on Abrams trainee, well spotted for solid effort in this. POOL MUSIC - This British-bred draws good rail post for route claimer, Valdivia on Marquez trainee for owners Anson, could trip out here. Value Play -- FAIRWAY FOE

6th Race -- BRIEF MESSAGE - Draws outside box for sprint outing, hustling Espinoza aboard Hendricks trainee, Message in graduation. TRADITION ROCKS - Training at Santa Anita, Flores aboard Baffert trainee for owners Wygod, connections usually Rocks in these spots. Value Play -- MYSTIC SWORD

7th Race -- DANCE DREAMER - Draws outside post in seven-horse turf route, Desormeaux scales Frankel trainee for owner Juddmonte Farms, need we say more. ROYAL AMBITION - British-bred training at Santa Anita, P. Val lands here for trainer and co-owner Pinfield, draws well for feature heat. Value Play -- TOP HONOURS

8th Race -- MON PETITE - Draws good post for full field of maiden/claiming sprinters, Desormeaux aboard Sise trainee, solid combo for graduation run. STAR OF THE NILE - Draws alongside top pick, Espinoza here for trainer Harrington, this Nile might be Star Of The nightcap. Value Play -- CRAVEN COTTAGE