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

Tuesday, March 18, 2003 | 9:04 a.m.

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

Wednesday's card

1st Race -- ROBERTO'S SHOW -- Draws good outside box for downhill opener, Solis scales Sise trainee, good spot for action. BLACK BART -- Nakatani sits Hofmans trainee for Cal-bred allowance, needs crafty trip from inner post, could be up in time. Value Play -- MCMANUS

2nd Race -- MILAGRA -- Scratched recently for this spot, Baze aboard co-owner Delima trainee, fits this sprint claimer well. MISS BOOMTOWN -- Hustling Espinoza on Abrams trainee, draws alongside top pick, a factor throughout. Value Play -- SOUP N' CRACKERS

3rd Race -- ENCINO UMP -- Training at Hollypark, Smith sits Marquez trainee for owners Anson, solid connections here. BOOMSLANG -- Draws outside in six-horse route claimer, Solis scales Carava trainee, Boomslang lands boom on foes. Value Play -- CLOUD JUMPER

4th Race -- GUN BOAT -- Draws good middle post in full field of Cal-bred maidens at turf mile, Smith astride Sahadi trainee for owner Team Valor, solid connections. SKYWALKER RED -- Draws good spot as well, Espinoza on Gallagher trainee, certain to like carpet with graudation in mind. Value Play -- ROBERT'S TRIBUTE

5th Race -- ASSAULTING RIDE -- Brazilian-bred draws inner box in long route outing, Solis astride Abrams trainee, Ride could be Assaulting to foes. SUFFIRE -- Argentine-bred should be competitive at this bottom level, hustling Pedroza on Monteleone trainee, will Suf-fire here? Value Play -- PARA USTED

6th Race -- PRAIRIE PREDATOR -- Training at Hollypark, Espinoza aboard Bray trainee for owner Paulson, well spotted in grass allowance/claimer. MONT SAINT MICHEL -- Chilean-bred training at Hollypark, Solis scales Frankel trainee, respect connections in route turf. Value Play -- PRIZED FRIEND

7th Race -- RADIATA -- Part of Jones-owned & Barrera-trained coupled entry with AMERICAN SYSTEM, Nakatani here, Garcia there, double feature threat. MEN'S EXCLUSIVE -- Old trooper draws rail post in sprint feature, Solis scales Ward trainee, certain to give his all. Value Play -- RIDE AND SHINE

8th Race -- GASSAN ROYAL -- Training at Hollypark, Solis stays on Frankel trainee, back to lawn for another graduation try. STANLEY PARK -- Draws good inner post for full field of maidens at turf mile, Espinoza atop Shirreffs trainee for owners Moss, could trip out for diploma. Value Play -- SCI FI