Ralph Siraco's Santa Anita selections
Friday, Jan. 8, 1999 | 10:45 a.m.
1ST RACE:
Smooth Player - Was must the best in troubled debut in last, squeezed at the start, taken up, bumped and rider lost his iron while close 2nd, nice work since raced, draws rail and Delahoussaye back to make ammends.
Vera Icy Lady - Rushed up from inside post, got lead and caught on wire in last, hopped and off slowly in debut before that, Flores returns, pompt start is needed from inside post here.
Value Play -- Sanz Sousse
2ND RACE:
Ali Kate - Dueled lead and outfinished while 2nd in last, broke maiden by 14-lengths at this trip and track three races back, draws good rail spot, Desormeaux exclusive.
Smart Crack - Dueled lead, led and outkicked late for close 3rd in last when in need of a race, 3rd before that, broke maiden gate-to- wire by daylight three races back, stretches out with theft on agenda.
Value Play -- Cee Dreams
3RD RACE:
Western Woman - Stalked pace and gave way in Grade I Hollywood Starlet to Excellent Meeting in last, dueled lead and best in duo second of stakes in prior pair of outings, won two other lifetime starts, no Excellent Meetings here.
Holywood Picture - Stalked and won on Hollypark lawn in last, 4th to Excellent Meeting in Grade I Oak Leaf at Oak Tree three races back, broke maiden in Fairplex stakes, could be in the Picture here.
Value Play -- Exbourne Free
4TH RACE:
Let's Go Surfing - Dueled lead and outkicked when runner up in last, pressed early and weakened in debut before that, switches to Desor- meaux and adds blinkers for this, winners circle dude?
Magic Bullet - Eliminated at the start when squeezed and took up in last, dueled lead and weakened before that, gets better post here, Soren- son takes over on Pinfield trainee.
Value Play -- Avoid Continental
5TH RACE:
Middleberg - Stalked and game 2nd sprinting on Hollypark lawn when in need of a race in last, close runner up in U.S. debut in only start down the hill March ' 97, jockey change to Solis for this, had race, beware.
Dangerous Scenario - Close runner up from outside post sprinting on Hollypark lawn in last, in the quinella 6 of 10 races down this hill with a pair of victories, Gomez returns on downhill specialist, needs clean trip from inside post.
Value Play -- Fearless Pirate
6TH RACE:
Reign Supreme - Made bid when 3rd sprinting on Hollypark lawn in last, handily won at this trip while 4-wide before that, both career victories at this distance, drops in class and Espinoza stays.
Ethel N Dave - Stalked pace and weakened on lawn in last, dueled lead and gamely won photo-finish before that, broke maiden by daylight at this distance while claimed at Del Mar, a factor throughout.
Value Play -- Jetlaunch
7TH RACE
Cape Canaveral - Monster debut maiden breaker from the rail in last, maintenance work since, Flores returns on Lukas trainee, scared off all but three, early Derby fever here.
Actin Time - Weakened in Grade III Hollypark grass stakes in last, won Bay Meadows allowance race before that, broke maiden at Hastings Park in debut three races back, recent bullet drill on the 4th signals sharpness.
Value Play -- Aristotle
8TH RACE:
Golden Glimmer - French import makes U. S. debut off series of turf works, 2nd by a nose in listed stakes mid-July in last, broke maiden be- fore that, trainer Canani tabs Stevens for this, good spot for debut action.
Gem de La Femme - Finished 2nd then disqualified to 5th in last, 3-wide 4th sprinting on Hollypark lawn before that, runner up in only start down this hill at Oak Tree ' 97, Solis returns on beaten favorite.
Value Play -- Galaxia
9TH RACE:
Globetrotter - 3rd at this level in last, 3rd before that, won at Oak Tree three races back, has won more races with 8 than any other in this field, winning rider Pincay returns on Mitchell trainee, at least knows how to win.
Sir Harry Bright - Freshened since easy Oak Tree tally in last, won at Fairplex before that, 3 of 4 lifetime victories from 4 starts at this distance, steady works since raced, good rail post.
Value Play -- Shady Link
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