US Horse Racing Tips: Two to watch from Keeneland

Our Stateside guru Paul Quigley is armed with two selections for Friday's racing- both coming from Keeneland.

Check out his US Horse Racing tips below.

21:44 Keeneland - Speed Shopper @ SP

Speed Shopper (9) is a lightly raced five-year-old who has really got good in the last few months. She won back-to-back stakes in December and January. The latest was a Grade 3 at Gulfstream over today’s mile-and-a-half distance. Two months later, she ran well to be third in another Grade 3 in Florida. She doesn’t draw well but seems to have another tactical speed not to be hung wide.

Just Basking (7) has a similar late blooming profile as Speed Shopper (9). She has upped her game since trying longer distances on the turf. At Gulfstream in February, she outfinished a good yardstick when taking a Grade 3. A month later, she stayed on late finishing only half a length behind Speed Shopper (9). Stamina is her forte. There may not be a ton of speed to chase down here.

At the likely odds, the likely front two in the market have worries. Speed Shopper (9) could get hung wide from her draw. Just Basking (7) may be parked behind a slow pace. With that in mind, backers should have a look at alternatives at prices.

Venencia (3) has a standout Grade 3 victory over course and distance last October to her name. She’s not sparked in three starts since including finished well behind the favourites in January and February. In contrast to her, Mrs. Astor (6) is in great form. She was only a length shy of a stakes hat-trick in a Grade 3 at Santa Anita last month. The standard of turf racing at California is below that in other jurisdictions. She is a solid place chance though.

There are a quartet in here who may improve stepping up markedly in distance. Literate (8) has the best form of any of them. She won a stake on The Tapeta at Turfway by 10 lengths in February. Way to Be Marie (1) outfinished a stakes field at The Fair Grounds last month. She handled an extended mile-and-a-quarter when second in a Grade 3 at Kentucky Downs last September. Virgin Colada (2) and Golden Sunshine (5) both lack stakes form. The first named goes for a trainer who regularly improves runners stepping up to these longer trips. Golden Sunshine (5) has the pedigree to handle a mile-and-a-half.

22:48 Keeneland - Pretty Picture @ SP

The last race at Keeneland’s Spring Meet is an allowance conditions event for fillies and mares carded at nine furlongs on turf. The worthy favourite looks to be Pretty Picture (6). She won her first couple of starts before being placed in a pair of graded stakes in the other two.

In the latest in November, she ran a close second splitting a pair of quality gals. The winner won a Grade 1 subsequently. She makes her four-year-old debut getting significant class relief. Lack of a recent race could be her undoing. She is proven fresh and her trainer Chad Brown has a fine record with lay off runners.

Massarat (11) went to the sidelines after winning at the level below this one at Kentucky Downs in September. She has a look of a late maturing filly so may improve this year.

As things stand, Befriended (9) has better form. She was disqualified after winning at this level by four lengths on The Tapeta at Turfway in February. Some of her siblings won on turf so the surface switch may not be an issue.

Not many horses improve leaving trainer Brad Cox. Strong Destiny (1) is an exception. Based on the speed figure she ran when trouncing a field at Turfway last month, she is a big threat to the selection. She has form on turf too. The rail drawn filly may get a nice trip on or just off the speed. The back in form Necessity (5) may also be forwardly placed. She is a better filly now than the one who tried the turf on her first two career starts.

The comebacking Night of Rose (7) was a Grade 1 winner in Brazil last June. The market may be best indicator to know if she is ready to fire. Unmerited Favor (8) returns to a track she has ran well both times on. Random Harvest (10) has been placed behind some decent fillies in two starts in Florida.

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

Find more Horse Racing Tips here at Betfred Insights