US Horse Racing Tips: Paul’s three to consider for Sunday’s action

Our US horse racing expert Paul Quigley is back with his thoughts on Sunday's action across the pond and has picked out three horses to consider backing this evening.

Read on for his US horse racing tips for tonight along with his reasoning for these selections...

Today's US Racing Odds

18:58 Tampa Bay Downs - Drifaros @ SP

The feature on the card at Tampa is a stakes quality handicap over seven furlongs for fillies and mares. There is only 4lb between top and bottom weights. Positano Sunset (7) is a stakes winner and a graded stakes runner up. She has ran some of her best races over today’s distance but can’t afford to give Drifaros (2) too much rope early on. Like her, she has been working well.

She has been freshened up since a narrow loss at Gulfstream in January. On her only start at Tampa, she was a winner of a stake. That and all her best form has come over six furlongs. The chances are she makes the lead without too much pace pressure. If that is the case, her stamina may not be fully tested.

Broken Hearts Bay (3) ran well in the face of a stiff task when fourth in a stake here last month. She was a winner the last time she raced over today’s distance. She’s a price chance or one to consider for the forecast.

So too is Hopesndreams (5). She snapped a long losing run when winning an allowance optional claimer here last month.

Louder Than Words (1), She's Fire (4) and Dream Concert (6) all make the turf to dirt switch. The rail drawn runner and Dream Concert (6) are multiple winners on the surface. Talented Indiana bred Louder Than Words (1) may have the speed to sit handy cutting back from a mile. Dream Concert (6) has good form over seven furlongs.

19:58 Tampa Bay Downs - Step Lightly @ SP

There is a mixture of class droppers and a trio stepping up after breaking their maidens last time.

Sparkling Ruby (9) is in the former category. She broke her maiden in December and ran well for a long way when facing a much tougher field on her return. This is a much softer spot and she will rightly take money.`

Likely market rival Florida Flower (6) won a starter event on dirt last month. So far she hasn’t ran as well over a mile on turf. The speedy Alien Princess (5) finished third to her last time. She has the pedigree to handle the surface switch.

O K to Dance (7) broke her maiden over course and distance in January. She is improving and is a better filly than the one who was clearly second best to Das Ist Alles Ally (1) in December. The rail drawn filly caught a deep field last time.

She is a likely late player in a race where they could go fast early on. Classicals Finale (8) is another who can finish.

La Gata Salvaje (4) and Step Lightly (3) are last time out maiden claiming winners. Those races were on dirt. There are reasons why both may improve now trying the grass. The dam of La Gata Salvaje (4) was a stakes class runner on the turf.

The dam of Step Lightly (3) was only modest but was best on the grass. She is only twice raced and has worked well since he graduated last month. With other speed types in here, she will need a heads up ride. She has enough upside for chancing her at a biggish price.

23:30 Santa Anita - Freedom's Not Free @ SP

The feature race at Santa Anita is a turf event over a mile for three-year-olds. It is a wide open renewal.

Tiz Secure (8) broke his maiden by open lengths locally last month. It is interesting that Bob Baffert switches him to the grass and ups him in distance for career start number two.

Shea Brennan (2) is another trying the turf for the first time. He has been first past the post in back to back stakes for California breds. Like Tiz Secure (8) his participation here is intriguing.

Freedom's Not Free (1) may be the right horse here. He followed up a maiden win with a good third in a stake here sprinting. Off that run, he holds Fomo Joe (4). He’s stoutly bred so more ground here should suit. Flavien Prat is a positive jockey booking.

Will Then (7) and Rank (6) are definitely worth considering. The first named is a filly taking on the boys. She rounded her juvenile season by winning a Grade 3 at Del Mar in November. She’s a likely late player.

Rank (6) has more tactical speed. At first glance, he looks hard in being a maiden. He has faced some of the best of his generation in California on dirt. In addition, he is bred to improve now switching to the turf.

Friendly Confines (3) improved off his debut to break his maiden last month. He can’t be discounted. Precision (5) was disappointing on his Stateside debut. It will be no surprise if he leaves that form behind.

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Paul Quigley is a long-time US racing fan and tipster. He provides US Horse Racing Tips for Betfred Insights as well as working for Betfred TV...