US Horse Racing Tips: Paul marks your Saturday card

Our Stateside guru Paul Quigley is kicks off the weekend with three tips from across the pond for Saturday's action, coming from Aqueduct, Churchill Downs and Oaklawn Park.

Check out his US Horse Racing tips below.

19:40 Aqueduct - Teddy's Rocket @ SP

If this race stays on the turf, Chad Brown will only run Instability (1). He tries a stake after winning a maiden on debut at Tampa. The field he beat was nothing special but he did it by four-plus lengths. Bearing in mind who he is trained by, there is likely to be a lot better to come from him second time out. He’s the second foal to race of his dam. The first was stakes placed in limited starts Stateside.

A couple of these are making their three year old debuts. Both Longshoreman (6) and Teddy's Rocket (3) showed plenty of ability as juveniles. The first named ran second in a Grade 3 here in October.

That was over six furlongs. His stamina may be tested here but he could be loose on the lead. Teddy's Rocket (3) is as least as dangerous. He had two really good types behind him when breaking his maiden on debut at Saratoga.

He was pitched in at the deep end second time out. In The Grade 1 Summer Stakes at Woodbine he finished a close up fourth. Both he and the runner-up looked unlucky as they were hung wide on a day the inside of the track looked the place to be. His race fitness has to be taken on trust but he did win first time out.

Trainer Mark Casse is double-handed here. His Blackmail (4) came back to form when narrowly beaten in a conditions event at Tampa. His stablemate Blinging It Back (7) is even more interesting.

He left his juvenile form behind running first time as a gelding. At Gulfstream last month, he was a close third in a stake. The winner is an improving type and the runner up scored next time. That form looks as good as anything in here although runners like Instability (1), Teddy's Rocket (3) and Longshoreman (6) may have a lot of improvement in them.

Blue Forty Two (5) comes off a trio of solid efforts on dirt. His dam was a pure turf horse so the surface switch may suit him.

22:46 Churchill Downs - Mink's Palace @ SP

This looks a competitive renewal. Last years winner Mink's Palace (3) is back to defend her crown. Interesting, she won that race off a four-month lay-off. Her trainer Eddie Kenneally has adopted the same approach this time around.

She’s been absent since upsetting a stakes field at Turfway in December. Zeitlos (6) has a little more class than her. She has plenty of fine efforts in graded stakes to her name. The six-year-old shaped as if she retains all her old ability when fourth in a deep stake at Oaklawn on her comeback. The last jockey to win on her Jose Ortiz is back aboard.

One Magic Philly (1) is interesting cutting back in distance. She has faded to different degrees in a trio over longer races since winning an allowance sprint at Keeneland in October. Less ground and blinkers back on may see her getting back to her Grade 3 winning form. Jersey Pearl (2) has a little more early speed than her. She has been freshened up since winning a stake at Oaklawn in late December.

The lightly raced possible improvers in here are Lucille Ball (5) and Lotsandlotsofcandy (4). The first named hasn’t been able to reproduce an eye-popping ten length victory at Aqueduct in January. She did rebound after a poor run when third in a stake in New York. Lotsandlotsofcandy (4) was a four-length winner of a stake at The Fair Grounds on her last start on dirt. She will be an early factor at very least.

Vincey Girl (7) made a successful return when winning a minor event at Tampa last month. She has better form to her name including a near four-length stakes victor at Gulfstream last August. If there is a speed meltdown, she is a likely beneficiary. Asternia (8) is likely to be more forwardly placed. She was used up on the pace in the same stake as Zeitlos (6) last time. Her handicap win at Oaklawn prior to that is contending form.

23:46 Oaklawn Park - Pronghorn @ SP

Standoutsensation (1) will take money on the big class drop. She was far from discredited in a Grade 2 here last month. Prior to that, she rattled up a four-timer including two stakes before narrowly failing to hold on in a Grade 3. She has speed but can sit just off a pacesetter and run her race.

That may be crucial as Runamileinmyshoes (7) may be gunned hard for the early lead. That mare has looked a new horse since a trainer change and a switch to race on the dirt. She has won back to back allowance conditions events at Santa Anita and latterly here.

This is a step up in class but the filly she beat last time is a decent yardstick. The chances are Ramon Vazquez will have to go faster early if she wants to clear the other speed. She did have a stalking gear in her on turf. Maybe from her draw, her rider may try and rate her a little.

Based on class, sharpness and speed figures, Standoutsensation (1) and Runamileinmyshoes (7) are the pair to beat. There are a couple in here that may get contending trips if a speed duel develops. Steve Asmussen is double-handed. His Bundle (6) has not found her form of last summer. Her stablemate Pronghorn (5) may be the play at the odds.

She is a lightly-raced four-year-old who is progressing with racing. At the start of the month here, she more than confirmed the promise of a run in March. She won an allowance conditions race by three-widening lengths. If things break her way, she may be able to round out the forecast or even better.

Queen's Martini (3) regressed on two starts off a big comeback win in December. She’s been kept to sprints for a long time. Interestingly, she ran well in a Grade 2 over a mile early in her career. She has been working well. So too has Ultimate Authority (4). Her recent form in Florida has been modest. Her trainer Saffie Joseph has been farming stakes with the runners he’s shipped to Oaklawn.

Mad About Marie (2) is an upgraded claimer in the form of her life.

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