Ralph Siraco’s Santa Anita selections

Wednesday, March 2, 2005 | 9:18 a.m.

Thursday's card

1st Race -- LOWER SHORE -- Draws good box here, Baze aboard Stute trainee for owner The Hat Ranch, fits this spot well. WEEKEND AT LARRY'S -- Draws alongside top pick here, Smith scales Lewis trainee, adds blinkers for this try. Value Play -- TOKEN WILD ONE

2nd Race -- SWEET STEPPER -- Desormeaux on Sadler trainee, must overcome outside post in grass mile claimer, early position will tell the tale. DIRECT MALE -- Draws alongside top pick for two-turn turf tag run, P. Val on young Dollace trainee, sans blinkers for this try. Value Play -- HEMET THOUGHT

3rd Race -- RHYTHM IN THE NITE -- Nakatani atop O'Neill trainee for owner Merv Griffin Ranch, needs crafty trip from post draw in mile maiden special weight outing, right Rhythm In The day makes the Nite a graduate. ROBADOR -- Drwas good inner box for sophomore Cal-bred two-turner, Valdivia astride Harty trainee, could get the diploma trip here. Value Play -- DEL MAR MENACE

4th Race -- CARELESS CANDIDATE -- Drws good post for starter allowance route, Baze aboard Gaines trainee, adds blinkers for this outing. UNPREDICT PROSPECT -- Training at Hollypark, Gomez scales young Dollace trainee, sans blinkers for this try. Value Play -- EAGER CONDUCTION

5th Race -- DEVOTED LOVER -- Draws good inner post for route claimer, Espinoza on Knapp trainee, should get the ground-saving trip here. GOSPODIN -- Big win on "off" track, Pedroza stays on Cerin trainee, last no fluke? Value Play -- GILDED BERTRANDO

6th Race -- SPORTY MCGEE -- Draws outer post in full field of maiden/claiming sprinters, Douglas atop Sadler trainee, Sporty graduation here? RILEY'S LIFE -- Training at Hollypark, Baze aboard La Croix, adds blinkers for this diploma try. Value Play -- NEVER LOST A WAGER

7th Race -- URBAN KING -- Irish-bred draws inner post in full field of grass milers, Solis scales Frankel trainee, always dangerous connections. SALFORD CITY -- Irish-bred daws well in two-turn turf allowance feature, Stevens sits Biancone trainee for owner Tabor, fits this group. Value Play -- SUPER STRUT

8th Race -- CHEROOT -- Draws good middle post for maiden/claiming sprint, Nakatani atop Vienna trainee, Che-root-out-diploma? LOOSENMYSHOES -- Espinoza on Mullins trainee, needs prompt start and clean trip from rail post at dash distance, Loosen-the-bankroll-for-my-shoes graduation? Value Play -- EXCEED THE SPEED