US Horse Racing Tips: Four to watch on Saturday

Our Stateside expert, Paul Quigley, is back to deliver his Saturday US Racing Tips, which takes us to Churchill Downs and Aqueduct.

You can find his four selections below.

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New customers only. Deposit via Debit Card & place first bet £10+ (1/1+) on Sports in 7 days. £30 Sports & £20 Acca Free Bets within 10 hrs of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment excl. & T&Cs Apply.

18:58 Churchill Downs (Race 3) - One Magic Philly @ SP

The Godolphin owned Ragtime (7) is likely to be a clear-cut favourite. She has ran big in all her five career starts. A neck second in The Grade 1 Test at Saratoga was followed by a graded stakes victory and a close up third in another. The speed figures she is capable of running are a little higher than her rivals. She has been getting behind in her races and closing late on. Her trainer Bill Mott puts the blinkers back on probably in an effort to keep her handier early. The headgear did seem to do that in her first two races.

Ragtime (7) will have to run down the likely second and third favourites. The filly with the most speed here is Shred the Gnar (2). She lost by a neck on debut and has won both her starts since. Her latest victory was a seven-length romp in a conditions event here. That effort suggested she was a stakes winner waiting to happen. It was in May so she must have had some kind of setback. She has been working really well and could wire this field.

ONE MAGIC PHILLY (6) was a promising runner in California before going off form. She won first time for trainer Brendan Walsh here last month. It was an allowance conditions event. The form was given a boost when the runner-up came back to win a stake last weekend. The four-year-old has worked well since suggesting she may build on that. The pick.

Red hot trainer Brad Cox is doubly represented. His Impel (1) won a stake over today’s distance and configuration at Ellis Park in August. She was hung wide in a Grade 2 at Aqueduct subsequently. Like her, new stablemate Literate (3) has back races that make her competitive. She has been racing on turf and Tapeta at Woodbine. The five-year-old did win well on her last start on dirt. That was over a one turn mile like today.

19:39 Aqueduct (Race 7) - Laurelin @ SP

For an end of year stake, this race has come up very deep. It features a couple of the best turf fillies of their generation. LAURELIN (7) and Fionn (4) are no strangers to each other.

They ran second and fourth respectively in The Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth Cup at Keeneland last month. Laurelin (7) was on a four timer after rattling up a stakes hat-trick. She has tactical speed so is likely to get the jump on her old rival. Stamina is the forte of Fionn (4).

The step up to a mile-and-three furlongs is in her favour. She had Hereforagoodtime (2) back in third when winning a Grade 3 over a similar distance at Kentucky Downs in September. She’s not a slow coach by any means. At Saratoga in July, she outfinished a top-class filly to win a Grade 1 at Saratoga over nine furlongs.

Backers trying to beat the front two in the market are likely to get good prices. Evershed (5) was only beaten less than two lengths by Laurelin (7) in a Grade 2 at Saratoga. She has some tactical speed so is the type to make her own racing luck.

That could be the case with sharp trio Scythian (1), National Archive (3) and Don't Jinx It (6). They do get class tests. Unmerited Favor (8) is improving with back to back victories in lesser company.

20:39 Aqueduct (Race 9) - Ohana Honour @ SP

This stake has not come up deep by any means. With that in mind, class act OHANA HONOR (4) figures to be a short price. He had form in top races last year but has only made two starts this term.

He’s ran deceptively well in both. In the first, he had no chance behind a wide margin winner in a $500,000 stake at Kentucky Downs. Last time, he was only fourth in a Grade 3 at Keeneland. He was made plenty of use of in a race over a mile-and-a-half that set up for a closer. The chances are he’s not quite the same horse this year. Looking at his rivals, he may not have to be.

Air Recruit (7) was a promising juvenile who missed all of his three-year-old season. He won his first two starts back including a stake at Monmouth. He’s been freshened up since facing a stiff task in a deep Grade 3 at Kentucky Downs in September.

With a more aggressive ride, the four year old may have better effort in him. That seems the opposite with Grade 1 winner last year Trikari (3). It is easy to make excuses for his first three starts. Less so his comeback here last month. Maybe he will come on for the run. He is a tough read.

Dear Dad (1) and Signator (6) lack the credentials of the best in here. Both run first time for trainers who have super records in improving recent acquisitions. The pair could outrun their odds. That is even more the case with Naptown (8).

That four-year-old has ran some fine races this year including fourth to subsequent Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Notable Speech in The Grade 1 Woodbine Mile. He tried to close against the race flow at Laurel last time.

22:25 Churchill Downs (Race 10) - Cadet Corps @ SP

This is a very competitive renewal. To be eligible to run in this race, you had to have run to be claimed for $35,000 or less in 2024 or 2025. The vast majority of this field have proven capable in much better races than claimers subsequently. Runners like CADET CORPS (2) have been Grade 3 placed since he last ran for sale. He is closely much with Point Dume (13) from a race at Delaware in September. Point Dume (13) is in career form. He followed up that victory with stakes score at Parx last month. He’s pacey and draws poorly for his running style.

Bernin Hot (10) and Navajo Warrior (12) come off victories locally. The first named did it over today’s course and distance. His only loss since a trainer change was by Cadet Corps (2) in August. The streaking Navajo Warrior (12) can sit off the pace so post 12 is not such a negative with him. He has won both his starts since joining trainer Saffie Joseph. He’s been kept fresh, possibly with this race with a big purse in mind. He’s a big player but may be a tad overbet with Irad Ortiz aboard.

Double Your Money (7) was a good runner up in a Grade 3 over a mile and a half in September. He’s just as effective over shorter, winning a starter at Aqueduct last month. He is one for the shortlist, going for a trainer with a super strike with the few runners he has. Like him, Le Gris (8) ships in from New York. He won his last start over today’s distance and could outrun his odds.

Welaka (6), Alternate Reality (5) and Dance Some Mo (11) ran one-two-three in a starter event over a mile in September. The winner seemed to have every chance when fourth to Cadet Corps (2) prior to that. Gilded Craken (1) may slip under the radar as he’s been racing on turf. He has a fine record on dirt. Overstatement (4) is improving and he should get pace to chase down.

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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...