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

Friday, March 5, 2004 | 9:20 a.m.

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

1st Race -- DAMN THE TORPEDOES -- Draws good post for sprint opener, Santiago atop West trainee, aim-fire-hit? EXPRESSIONIST -- Hard-knocking runner draws well for tag dash, Baze aboard Spawr trainee, back class takes this. Value Play -- ROYAL FOOTAGE

2nd Race -- TAPIO -- Irish-bred draws good post for downhill maiden special weight outing, Stevens scales Shirreffs trainee for owners Moss, right connections and right breeding. RICHEBOURG -- Desormeaux on Drysdale trainee, draws rail box for down-the-dip sophomore run, respect connections. Value Play -- CHOSEN HERO

3rd Race -- PURPLE TOI -- Draws good outer post for full field of maiden/claiming sprinters, Baze aboard Knapp trainee, been knocking on diploma door. DUBAI DOLLY -- Ramsammy atop Ward trainee, draws good box in Cal-bred dash, Dubai diploma for Dolly? Value Play -- SPRING FESTIVAL

4th Race -- LYDGATE -- Flores aboard Harty trainee for owner Darley Stable, draws good box for downhill allowance outing, good spot for action. VICTORY SONG -- Daws good outside box for down-the-dip run, Santiago atop Baffert trainee, solid connections. Value Play -- BLAIRS GENERAL

5th Race -- CRYSTAL COLONY -- Draws good post for full field at mile distance, Nakatani on Canani trainee for owner Gill, good spot for action. PROCEED WITH CARE -- British-bred draws good rail post for two-turn claimer, Baze aboard Mullins trainee, solid connections here. Value Play -- DIG FOR IT

6th Race -- MORE MODERN -- Draws good post in full field of grass milers, Desormeaux aboard owner Frankel trainee, set to trip out here. MISTER COSMI -- British-bred draws rail post for two-turn grass claimer, Nakatani on Canani trainee for owner Gill, shortest trip to winners circle? Value Play -- MARANILLA

7th Race -- LION HEART -- Joins Derby scene in this mile Grade II outing, Smith returns on Biancone trainee for owner Tabor, wins if he picks up as a sophomore where he left off as a juvenile. QUINTON'S GOLD RUSH -- Nakatani on Mitchell trainee, must overcome outside post in two-turn stakes, promising sophomore also looks to break into Derby picture. Value Play -- LUCKY PULPIT

8th Race -- POWERFUL TOUCH -- Solis scales Frankel trainee for owner Stronach Stables, needs crafty trip from post draw in turf route, runs as "house horse" here. HOTEL HALL -- Irish-bred draws alongside top pick in full field of allowance/claiming grass runners, Espinoza on Mitchell trainee, good spot for action. Value Play -- BEAU SOLEIL

9th Race -- BUCKLAND MANOR -- Draws good post in full field of Grade II turf milers, Nakatani on Gonzalez trainee for owners McCaffery & Toffan, has enough early foot to get good forward position here. SARAFAN -- Hard-knocking stakes competitor draws challenging spot for return to races, Espinoza aboard this one-of-two Drysdale-trained "hidden entries", freshening may be productive. Value Play -- IRISH WARRIOR

10th Race -- PLEASANTLY PERFECT -- Breeders' Cup Classic champ comes into Big Cap off solid stakes win at the meet, Solis again on Mandella trainee, so far he is appropriately named. SOUTHERN IMAGE -- Solid stakes winner is new face in division, Espinoza back aboard Machowsky trainee, should like the American classic distance of 1 1/4 miles in million-dollar Grade I Santa Anita Handicap renewal. Value Play -- OLMODAVOR

11th Race -- EASTERN POINT -- Flores aboard Baffert trainee, draws good outer post in maiden special weight sprint, best Eastern run puts Point south in winners circle. FULLBRIDLED -- Training at Hollypark, Smith scales young Mandella trainee, promising sophomore takes diploma in Big Cap Day finale? Value Play -- SENECA POINT