US Racing Nap of the Day: Donegal Momentum to back up impressive debut

Plenty of races on the slate for fans of US Racing this evening including action from Belmont at the Big A, Churchill Downs, Gulfstream Park and Woodbine among many.

Our US tipster has picked out a Nap of the Day along with his best selection from Betfred's Extra Place Races for the action...

*Races will be priced-up by the traders at betfred.com closer to Post Time.

Nap of the Day:

No bueno for Into Love yesterday as she bumped into a rival out of the stalls and never fully recovered. I’m not giving up on her and will be watching the price of her next race closely.

I would’ve loved to back Raptor as my Nap in the 23:31 at Woodbine. This Brazilian Derby winner has been shipped to North America and will work out of Mark Casse’s stable. That is a great combination but I’m steering clear just because he hasn’t raced in over a year and may need a race or two before we see his true potential. His trainer thinks he may have star power, so undoubtedly he’s the most interesting horse set to go this evening.

Instead I’m heading to the Belmont at the Big A meet and the exciting three-year-old Donegal Momentum, who wowed on his debut, winning by eight-and-a-quarter-lengths at Aqueduct, putting up a 92 Beyer in the process. That was undoubtedly one of the most impressive debut performances of the year so far, as he just went away down the stretch with an extra gear or two in hand.

Today he’ll face winners for the first time but that step up in quality doesn’t faze me. I’m not expecting great odds once the market are priced-up but this looks like the most likely winner across the US or Canada this evening. So I’ll take the 4/5 or 10/11 that he’s likely to be and move on.

*You can bet on all of Today's Horse Races over at betfred.com

Extra Place Bet of the Day:

For the second straight day, our Extra Place Race pick didn’t run. On Tuesday it was because the meet was cancelled and yesterday Blaze On was scratched. 

Tonight, there are no fewer than 13 races on the docket where Betfred are paying out three places rather than two on each-way bets, so plenty to choose from as we search for a value play from outside the top choices in the betting.

The race I’ve zeroed in on is the 22:21 up at Woodbine where three-time winner Bridge to Nowhere will have to run a fantastic race to win but has a real good chance of placing at what should be decent odds.

This four-year-old filly by Speightster has started her 2024 campaign in impressive fashion, having opened with back-to-back wins here at the Canadian track, including putting up her best Equibase Speed Figures of her career to date. Those numbers are slower than the expected favourite Mizzen Ash, who is making her 2024 debut after an outstanding end to 2023 at Turfway Park but is certainly in and around the rest of the field. 

When you add in that she’s trained by the number two trainer so far at the Woodbine meet and will be ridden by the number two jockey so far this year at the track, give me the expected 6/1 all-day long.

*Remember to check out all of the latest Horse Racing Odds over at betfred.com

You can check out all of our other US Racing Tips here at Betfred Insights.