Ralph Siraco’s Santa Anita selections

Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2004 | 9 a.m.

Thursday's card

1st Race -- MAASTRICHT -- Part of Darley Stable-owned and Harty-trained coupled entry with AGOREIN, Flores & blinkers-off here, Bisono there, double diploma threat. COURTLY JAZZ -- Draws good rail post for route maiden special weight opener, Douglas atop young Mandella trainee, takes shortest trip to graduation? Value Play -- LARRY KING

2nd Race -- CADILLAC CRUISER -- Douglas aboard Machowsky trainee for owner Stronach Stables, needs crafty trip from rail post at 7-panel distance, take "house horse" here? BEAT THE CHALK -- Hustling Pedroza on one-of-two Mullins-trained "hidden entry", one-of-two in the allowance/claiming field that is in for a tag, like philosophy of name. Value Play -- STORMIN AWAY

3rd Race -- SPIRITED -- Draws good post in full field of downhill claimers, Baze aboard O'Neill trainee, weather may move this heat to main track which is OK for this filly. SILVER HAWK LADY -- Draws inner box in bulky field here, Smith scales Garcia trainee, another that can handle course change. Value Play -- MISS BLUES CLUES

4th Race -- WORKSFORMONEY -- Flores aboard Cerin trainee, draws good post for maiden/claiming sprint, backers hope she Works-for-their-money. ANEARLYFIL -- Baze aboard Stute trainee, needs crafty trip from rail post at dash distance, A-nearly-fil diploma? Value Play -- MY KITTY CAT

5th race -- CALIFORNIA POWER -- Draws middle post for sprint claimer, Gomez atop Mitchell trainee, wins if lives up to namesake. DEALINWITHINSANITY -- Hustling Pedroza on Knapp trainee, draws good box for tag dash, may be Deal-in-with-Insanity of foes here. Value Play -- CHARMER BARON

6th Race -- HIGH BYARS -- Draws good middle post in full field of claiming sprinters, Gomez scales Carava trainee, only needs to have the High Byars to win here. ULLOA -- Baze aboard Hess trainee, needs prompt start and clean trip from inner post at dash distance, right rider for task. Value Play -- CERTAIN ACT

7th Race -- ROI CHARMANT -- Draws good spot for downhill feature, Flores aboard Machowsky trainee, should not mind course switch from weatherman. SPENCER'S MAGIC -- Figueroa atop Abrams trainee, needs to overcome inside post in allowance dash, flighty runner capable of big effort. Value Play -- STERNY

8th Race -- WEEKEND AT LARRY'S -- Smith scales co-owner Lewis trainee, must overcome outer post in full field of maiden/claiming milers, sans blinkers for this diploma try. MISTER BEL -- Draws good middle post for two-turn freshman tag run, Flores aboard Mitchell trainee, Mister to ring the graduation Bel here? Value Play -- LOWER SHORE