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

Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2003 | 9:08 a.m.

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

1st Race -- AMERICAN LIBERTY -- Draws good post for turf mile opener, Valenzuela atop one of two Drysdale-trained entries, American liberates diploma here. BUT OF COURSE -- Espinoza on the other Drysdale horse for owner Thoroughbred Corporation, all-Drysdale graduation quinella here? Value Play -- MUD SHARK

2nd Race -- PAPIER MACHE -- Hustling Pedroza on main man Carava trainee, fits the claiming level well, has to overcome outside post in route outing. ATISH -- Krone aboard Hines trainee, needs crafty trip from post draws in two-turner, trip the key here. Value Play -- CELOSITA MAG

3rd Race -- WINTEROSE -- Valenzuela on Hendricks trainee for owners Wygod, needs prompt start and clean trip from rail post in sprint, summer graduation for Winter? ROSARITA BEACH -- Draws good post for short maiden/claiming dash, Enriquez atop West trainee, productive combination here. Value Play -- HOLY REQUEST

4th Race -- SLEW CITY LILY -- Valenzuela aboard Aguirre trainee for owner JPF Investments, needs prompt start and clean trip from inner post in sod dash, beware. KELLI LEE -- Draws good post in allowance/claiming turf sprint, Nakatani on Mandella horse, lands good spot here. Value Play -- GOODBYE GAMBLER

5th Race -- FRESAL -- Draws good middle post in sprint maiden outing, Espinoza aboard Sadler trainee for owner Grandja Vista Del Rio Stable, without blinkers for this. TENDER TEEN -- Hustling Pedroza astride Canani entry for owners Wygod, draws good box in Cal-bred dash, Teen for backers green diploma? Value Play -- SUNN OUTCOME

6th Race -- DESERT VIEW -- British-bred draws good inner post for mile outing, Espinoza aboard young Mulhall horse for owner Thoroughbred Corporation, beware. LIFE'S PLEASURE -- Training at Santa Anita, Nakatani on Bray trainee, well spotted in allowance/claimer. Value Play -- EXPRESSWAY

7th Race -- CARBON COPY -- British-bred scratched out recently, Flores aboard Vienna entry for owner Red Baron's Barn, ready for action here. GARDEN IN THE RAIN -- French-bred draws middle post for turf route feature, Krone atop Mullins-trained horse, in for six-figure tag. Value Play -- TOP SPINNER

8th Race -- AEROJACK -- P. Val aboard Baffert trainee, draws good post for full field of maiden/claiming sprinters, Aero-jack-de-diploma here? SWISS MOCHA -- Solis scales Lynch entry for owner Triple AAA Ranch, draws good post for freshman nightcap dash, graduation coffee break? Value Play -- WESTERN RODEO