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

Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2003 | 9:05 a.m.

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

Thursday's card

1st Race -- THUNDER GULCH GIRL -- Draws good box for short opening dash, Nakatani on Mitchell trainee, first-year filly to graduate here? BLACK MAGIC LADY -- P. Val aboard Cerin trainee, needs prompt start from outer post at sprint trip, Magic diploma gets Lady out of maiden/claiming Black. Value Play -- DANA'S DAWN

2nd Race -- MEMO TO MIKE -- Draws good outside box in 7-panel Cal-bred claimer, P. Val sits Eurton trainee, Memo To foes is Mike ready to roll? SPEEDY PICK -- Espinoza atop Cardenas trainee, needs crafty trip from rail post, adds blinkers to package for this outing. Value Play -- NICOLE'S APOLLO

3rd Race -- GASSAN ROCK -- Krone aboard Mitchell trainee, draws good post for sprint maiden/claimer, Gassan graduation written in Rock? HOLY BULLY -- Draws good box for freshman dash, Espinoza on saddle for trainer DeLima here, ready to Bully foes for devine diploma? Value Play -- BELEIVE A CAPER

4th Race -- BRANCUSI -- Talented well-bred runner returns to racing wars, Farina atop Biancone trainee for owner Tabor, well-placed on lawn. KEWEN -- Krone on young Mandella trainee, draws good box in turf allowance mile, question at hand is: Can Kewen win? Value Play -- SNORTER

5th Race -- TRIPLE FANTASY -- Flores scales one of two Baffert-trained entries, this one for owner Thoroughbred Corporation, solid team is no Fantasy here. BRAVE VIXEN -- Solis sits young Mandella trainee, needs crafty trip from post draw in mile maiden outing, first-year filly well bred. Value Play -- PEPPERMINT ROSE

6th Race -- LOGICAN -- Lands good spot in Cal-bred allowance/claimer, needs crafty trip from outer post at mile trip, Nakatani to help young Dollace trainee. EXCEEDING -- Draws good inner post for two-turner, P. Val atop Baffert trainee, sans blinkers for this outing. Value Play -- TIZBUD

7th Race -- GOLDEN ARROW -- Training at Hollypark, draws good post for allowanc/claimer, Espinoz aboard Drysdale trainee for owner Maktoum Al Maktoum. KACHAMANDI -- Chilean-bred draws good post for downhill feature, P. Val fits Carava trainee well, likes the roller coaster trip. Value Play -- SHADOW OF ILLINOIS

8th Race -- BIRD IN SPRING -- New face Fogelsonger atop Sadler trainee, draws good box for claimng sprint, Bird In Spring to take fall finale? COMPANY OF MARY -- Draws good outer post for nightcap dash, Nakatani on co-owner Chapman trainee, solid jockey-trainer team. Value Play -- SMILIN SUSAN