US Horse Racing Tips: Thursday’s picks come from Saratoga

There's another good card at Saratoga that our US horse racing tipster Paul Quigley has focused on for this preview of Thursday's action from across the pond.

Read on for his US Horse Racing Tips for Thursday.

21:02 Saratoga (Race 7) - Pandora's Gift @ SP

A quartet of these ran in a Grade 3 at Keeneland at the end of April. Win machine Future Is Now (2) nosed out Pandora's Gift (1) with Danse Macabre (4) third and Kairyu (7) a troubled sixth.

Future Is Now (2) was only half-a-length of being on seven-timer here. She has speed but is just as capable sitting just off the pace. It is hard to put anyone off her. Maybe on the revised draw, the former Stuart Williams trained Pandora's Gift (1) can turn the tables. She has adapted well to the style of Stateside racing. Jose Ortiz may know more about her second time aboard.

The other two from that Keeneland Grade 3 are not out of this. The late running Danse Macabre (4) finished just in front of Future Is Now (2) in a Grade 3 over course and distance last summer. Like her, Kairyu (7) will be suited if there is speed to chase down. Pipsy (6) will make her own racing luck. She looks improved now a four year old, winning nicely on her comeback at Keeneland. Looking at that victory in a fast time, she is much better filly than the one who lost to Future Is Now (2) last autumn.

Twirling Queen (5) was on a roll last year. Her stakes victory over course and distance from Kairyu (7) was her fourth in a row. She has been working well in Florida for her comeback. On Command (3) ran a career best when beating Time to Dazzle (8) when winning a stake at Aqueduct last month. She may need to take another step forward to take this.

21:37 Saratoga (Race 8) - Octane @ SP

You can make a case for all of these.

Little separated Film Star (8) and Classic Catch (3) when they were placed in a similar event at Aqueduct last month. The pair will take money. Film Star (8) who has tactical speed and a good record at Saratoga may be the one to take out of that race. Octane (5) has obvious holes but is a little intriguing in this spot. Considering he’d been away seven months, he didn’t run too badly on his return.

Second time back, he may run back to his stakes best. Irad Ortiz is a positive jockey booking. If he gets him on the lead on his own, he could wire these at a price.

Willy D's (4) comes off a career of good efforts in defeat at Oaklawn and Churchill. He is too sharp to ignore. So too is Wild Vine (9). He has won back to back races at Laurel and Philly since being claimed by trainer Jamie Ness. The speed figure he ran last time compares very favourably with the best in here.

Castle Chaos (1), Surface to Air (2) and Kuchar (7) get class relief after tackling stakes races.

The rail drawn has a chance off his run two starts back. Likewise Surface to Air (2) off a victory at Churchill. Kuchar (7) makes the biggest drop having tackled Grade 1 company on his last start in September. He has been working well for his comeback. Likewise Dubyuhnel (6) who was entitled to need his comeback at Keeneland.

22:12 Saratoga (Race 9) - Sherlock's Jewel @ SP

Key to the outcome here seems to be how fast the early fractions will be. Filo Di Arianna (3) plots to be on the lead. He won back to back Grade 2’s in Canada last year before running second in The Grade 1 Woodbine Mile.

The likelihood is, he will be all the better for a recent comeback spin in a sprint stake last month. If he gets no pace pressure, he’ll be tough to reel in. The one possible fly in the ointment to that is if Donegal Momentum (8) is ridden aggressively from the get-go. He was a stakes winner last October and bettered that with a placed efforts in The Grade 1 Hollywood Derby.

Donegal Momentum (8) was ran down late on by Sherlock's Jewel (6) at Aqueduct last month. The winner has got really good all of a sudden with back to back victories since returning to the turf. This is a step up in class but his trainer has a fine record in improving horses. In the hope there is better to come from him, he may be worth siding with. Maybe take him to win plus a saver forecast with Filo Di Arianna (3) in case he gets it easy on the front.

Cameo Performance (1) has to be feared on the big class drop. He was only beaten three lengths in a Grade 1 at Churchill last month. If Manny Franco can find some room when it matters from his rail draw, he can win this. Likewise Major Dude (4). He is a consistent type who has ran well in his last three starts since facing Grade 1 company. The mount of Irad Ortiz always seems to take money which may mean a relatively short price in a competitive looking race.

Trainer Chad Brown is always to be feared in turf stakes, often with his French imports. His Intellect (2) had been away a year when third at Keeneland on his comeback. There is likely better to come second time back. Depiction (7) also lacked a recent start when behind him in Kentucky. He has worked well since that race.

Click the links for the latest Horse Racing Odds and Today's US Racing Odds

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...