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

Thursday, Aug. 7, 2003 | 9:27 a.m.

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

1st Race -- VERY VEGAS -- Draws good post for sprint opener, Desormeaux aboard, hey look at the name? J LOVES J -- Draws rail box for maiden/claiming dash, Nakatani sits here, needs prompt start and clean trip for a J to Loves J diploma. Value Play -- INDEFENSIBLE

2nd Race -- MYOFFICEWIFE -- Baze aboard here, draws good inner post for mile outing, connections that gamble. THE BORG QUEEN -- Hustling Espinoza aboard, draws good spot for claiming level, Queen of the two-turn outing here? Value Play -- CRAFTY MADNESS

3rd Race -- HIGH ALERT -- Smith sits here, draws good box for mile outing, backers are High on Alert diploma. EARLY SNOW -- Espinoza in the irons, needs crafty trip from post draw in two-turn maiden/claimer, Early graduation may be no Snow job here. Value Play -- RANSOM THE KROONER

4th Race -- HE CANDIGIT -- Draws good inner post for short turf dash, Stevens scales here, shortest trip to winners circle maybe He can-dig-it. SEALED WITH A KISS -- Flores aboard, needs prompt start and quck run from outside post at short sod trip, early foot tells the tale. Value Play -- TOMBSTONE

5th Race -- ATISH -- Draws good rail post for route claimer, Krone sits here, another shortest trip to winners circle deal. KATE'N AMY -- Valenzuela atop, fits this level tag and can handle two-turn trip with this rider up, a forward factor throughout. Value Play -- I'LL DELIVER

6th Race -- SUPER PATRIOT -- P. Val up, draws good inner post for sprint maiden outing, Super graduation for Patriot? WE HAVE A PROBLEM -- Needs prompt start and clean trip from rail post, Espinoza to help, foes may Have A Problem with this one. Value Play -- KING GEORGE W.

7th Race -- ALOZAINA -- Draws good post for turf route feature, Nakatani aboard, change of scenery to seaside may turn the trick. FIRTH OF LOME -- Irish-bred draws rail post for sod allowance/claimer, Flores in the saddle here, Firth may be first to finish. Value Play -- LOOKN MIGHT FINE

8th Race -- ROCK ISLAND SALAMI -- Baze aboard, draws good middle post for full field of maiden/claiming sprinters, Rock graduation no Island of backers? SUMPTER -- Espinoza for nightcap diploma try, draws good post as well, Sumpter has to graduate here? Value Play -- GO MAX GO