US Horse Racing Tips: Two to follow at Saratoga and Kentucky Downs

Our Stateside expert, Paul Quigley, returns on Thursday to provide his expertise on the racing action from across the pond.

Check out his US Racing Tips below, which come from Saratoga and Thistledown.

21:28 Saratoga (Race 7) - Gloves Off (7) @ SP

None of these juveniles has had more than two career starts. With that in mind, they are likely to have plenty of improvement in them. Capital Partner (3) is very likely to head the market. He came with a nice late run to outfinish a field of maidens over course and distance on debut. The positives include he goes for Chad Brown who wins many of these turf stakes in New York. The slight negative is that he goes off a shortish price.       

Final Score (1) wired Heeere's Johnny (2) in a maiden here at the start of the month. The runner up did well the way the race was run. The pair are possibilities along with Caroline St. Beat (4). He was the subject of strong support when beating a field of state breds on his only start to date. In contrast, The Godolphin owned Gloves Off (7) was weak in the market when winning first time out at Ellis Park. He didn’t earn much of a speed figure but three horses have come back out of the maiden to win next time. The play at the likely odds.

A trio of these try the turf for the first time. On pedigree, Dr. Agne (5) is the most interesting. He is a son of multiple Grade 1 winner Lady Eli. The other two can’t be discounted. Strategic Risk (8) ‘ran into one’ in a Grade 3 last time. One More Freud (6) won his only start by a space.

23:31 Kentucky Downs (Race 10) - Ohana Honor (8) @ SP and Steal Sunshine (13) @ SP

This is a wide open race. From a class point of view, it can be argued Lagynos (14) is the horse to beat. He was placed in back to back graded stakes before running respectably when in deep in a Grade 1 at Saratoga last time. The four year old has a victory on this turf track which is a positive bearing in mind how unique it is.

The former Irish trained pair of Cameo Performance (7) and Mountain Bear (5) have claims if at their best. Both run first time as geldings after below par efforts. Cameo Performance (7) also runs in blinkers first time. Mountain Bear (5) would be hard to beat off his third place in a deep Grade 1 at Keeneland last October.

Nineeleventurbo (3) returns to the scene of his career best effort. That was when second, beaten a head in this race last year. Fellow California invader Astronomer (10) is in form. He’s on a long, losing run but has a place chance. Maybe the pair to have a look at prices are Ohana Honor (8) and Steal Sunshine (13). The first named ran big in good company last year. He went to the sidelines after a poor run in October. His trainer can bring them back fit after a long lay off. With such a big purse on offer, he may be ready. Steal Sunshine (13) had some good for on dirt. He missed by head in a minor contest at Gulfstream in a rare start on turf in June. The winner franked the form by winning a stake next time.       

There isn’t too much speed in this race. That makes Nelson Avenue (12) dangerous if he’s on an easy lead.

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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...