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

Tuesday, May 6, 2003 | 9:05 a.m.

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

Wednesday's card

1st Race -- CLEAR TALKER -- Draws good post for short baby dash, Espinoza on Harrington trainee, adds blinkers for diploma try. DON'TSELLMESHORT -- Valenzuela atop Stute trainee, needs prompt start and clean trip from inner post in Cal-bred maiden opener, Don't-sell-him-short. Value Play -- RUBIANO'S WISH

2nd Race -- MR. POWERFUL -- Draws good outer post for sprint claimer, Lopez astride Hess trainee for owner Sunset Stables, well spotted here. SMOKIN SIX -- Training at Santa Anita, draws good outside box, Pedroza on main man Carava trainee. Value Play -- SHINING NUGGETS

3rd Race -- TACK ATTACK -- Nakatani on Sise trainee, needs crafty trip from post draw in turf mile outing, Tack Attack-s diploma here. SKYWALKER RED -- Draws good box in maiden outing, Espinoza on Gallagher trainee, bred for grass graduation. Value Play -- KOFI

4th Race -- SOVIET FLAG -- Puglisi atop Aguirre trainee for owner JPF Investments, needs prompt start and clean trip from rail post, potent combination. DARING BERT -- Draws good outside post for sprint claimer, Lovato atop Hendricks trainee, adds blinkers for this outing. Value Play -- AFFIRM CAT

5th Race --MOTTO -- Scratched out for this spot, Espinoza on Mandella trainee for owners Moss, Motto is Moss victory? SPLENDID TIMES -- Nakatani on Jackson trainee, needs crafty trip from outer post at turf route, training at Santa Anita for this. Value Play -- LATE NIGHT OUT

6th Race -- SMILIN SUSAN -- Valenzuela aboard Mitchell trainee, needs crafty trip from rail post in long one-turn claimer, Susan backers hope to Smilin after race. JADE FOX -- Draws better box than top pick here, Almeida atop Stute trainee, has run well over this layout before. Value Play -- GODS EAR

7th Race -- POLYGREEN -- French bred draws good rail post for turf mile feature, Stevens scales Mandella trainee, should get best trip here. IVORY TOWER -- Argentine-bred draws outer post for small six-horse allowance/claimer, Espinoza atop McAnally trainee for owners Craig, well spotted. Value Play -- MISS PUZZLE

8th Race -- TIZWAR -- Valenzuela aboard Mitchell trainee, needs prompt start and clean trip from rail post in short nightcap dash, colt Tiz-war-ning graduation? PATRIOT DREAM -- Draws alongside top pick in freshman maiden/claimer, Espinoza here for trainer Harrington, diploma Dream for backers. Value Play -- DUBLIN GRADE