Ralph Siraco’s Del Mar selections

Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2004 | 9:27 a.m.

Thursday's card

1st Race -- MOUNTAIN MUSTANG -- Flores aboard co-owner Spawr trainee, draws good box for sprint opener, Mountain to beat molehills? KINGOFTHECOURT -- Court atop O'Neill trainee, draws good post for sophomore tag dash, victory appropriately named for horse and rider. Value Play -- VILAMOURA

2nd Race -- DROUGHT BREAKER -- Nakatani atop Spawr trainee, draws good post for Cal-bred mile outing, all-Spawr daily double? TJE BORG QUEEN -- Draws well in two-turn allowance/claimer, Flores aboard Dolan trainee, cagey jockey-trainer team. Value Play -- WATERMELON WINE

3rd Race -- B.Z. JONES -- Draws good post for route claimer, Court atop O'Neill trainee, Jones keeps foes B.Z. here? ROOSTER'S DEPUTY -- Jauregui astride Dominguez trainee, needs crafty trip from post draw in two-turn tag run, good spot for action. Value Play -- LOOKS LIKE A FISH

4th Race -- UNION TRAIN -- Desormeaux on co-owner Dolan trainee, draws good box for short maiden/claiming dash, freshman bred to win early. GO BON -- Nakatani aboard Mitchell trainee, draws good post for tag sprint, respect jockey-trainer team for diploma run. Value Play -- BEAU

5th Race -- GOOD TERMS -- Draws good middle post in full field at 7-panel distance, Nakatani stays on Sise trainee, good spot for action, beware. I LOVE RACING -- Draws alongside top pick for Cal-bred one-turn tag run, Court atop Cerin trainee, only needs to live up to namesake to win. Value Play -- NATURAL STYLE

6th Race -- PARFUMEUR -- French-bred lands good spot in grass tag run, Smith scales scales Spawr trainee, needs crafty trip from outer post draw. ULTIMATO -- Draws good post in full field of two-turn turf claimers, Court astride one-of-two O'Neill-trained "hidden entry," beware. Value Play -- MONSIEUR BOULANGER

7th Race -- NOSE THE TRADE -- British-bred scratched from tougher Grade II stakes over the weekend for this spot, Desormeaux on Frankel trainee for owner Tanaka, all systems go. MINISTERS WILD CAT -- Santiago atop Drysdale trainee, draws good spot in allowance/claiming mile feature, back class runner at seaside? Value Play -- TOUCH THE WIRE

8th Race -- VEGAS BANDIT -- Draws good post in full field of maiden/claiming sprnters, hustling Pedroza on main man Carava trainee, steals diploma and heads for desert? MR. WISTER -- Nakatani atop Cardenas trainee, needs prompt start and clean trip from inner post at dash distance, Mr. Wister-away graduation here? Value Play -- SUPER PRINCE