US Horse Racing Tips: Paul marks your Friday card

Our US horse racing expert, Paul Quigley, returns on Friday with some more betting tips from across the Atlantic. He's been drawn to the cards on offer at Ellis Park and Saratoga, picking out three selections to follow.

Read on for his latest US Horse Racing Tips.

Horse Racing Odds

21:12 Ellis Park - Telescopic @ SP

Most of these come out of two races at this level at Churchill Downs. The one contender who doesn’t is Royal Guard (10). He showed improved when he broke his maiden by almost five lengths last month. The step up to a mile-and-a-half seemed to transform him. There has to be at least a slight doubt he will be just affective cutting back to 10 furlongs. He does go for a top trainer and is lightly raced.

Telescopic (2) did the best of five of these when second at this level but over nine furlongs at Churchill last month. He runs as if more ground won’t be an issue. The five-year-old may have gone close last time but for getting caught in traffic.

My Boy Tony (6) was another runner he had his run blocked late on. Interestingly, he finished just ahead of Telescopic (2) prior to that. He is one of the more likely winners.

A few of these who finished behind Telescopic (2) and My Boy Tony (6) in recent races are worth considering at prices. Trainer Mike Maker has a couple of them. His runners are always worth a look in these longer distance turf races. His Rapoport (4) hasn’t too much to find. His stablemate Lazlo (9) has worked well in preparation for this race. Theodore George (7) has had no visible excuses for his last two defeats. He runs first time since being gelded so may improve for that.

21:42 Ellis Park - Smooth Transition @ SP

There is an over-subscribed field for this maiden. Of the reserves, Dontworryboutnothn (12) seems the most likely of them if he gets in. He bounced back to form following a trainer change to run head second in a maiden here.

Like him, Grande Sorpreso (8) was narrowly beaten on dirt last time. He did try the turf prior to that and didn’t appear to stay a mile. He’s a place chance at very least.

Quintillion (2) and Thunder Appeal (3) ran in a maiden over five furlongs on the turf at Churchill last month. Quintillion (2) ran his best race to date to be fourth. The Wes Ward trained Thunder Appeal (3) had the more interesting trip.

He got behind, looking like he was going to be tailed off. Maybe it was getting outside of his rivals as he finished really well. It was his first race in 18 months. Second time back and getting more ground are reasons for thinking of much better to come here.

Reserve Dismiss (14) runs the same solid race every time. That often produces a placed effort. Maybe the two debutants are more of a threat for a win.  Both go for trainers with decent records with newcomers.

Hodl Hard (9) has been working forwardly. The dam of Smooth Transition (7) was a good turf sprinter. His full brother was a multiple stakes winner. If he has a similar amount of ability, he can break his maiden at first asking.

22:45 Saratoga - And One More Time @ SP

The days feature is a stake for fillies and mares that have not won a graded event in 2026 and 2026. Four or possibly five runners will take money.

here are runners who have current or past form at that higher level. Deep Satin (9), And One More Time (3) and Sandtrap (4) ran with credit considering they were deep in a Grade 1 over course and distance last time. With better trips, any of that trio could have finished closer.

Deep Satin (9) had to be steadied, doing well to close against the race flow. Her old rivals draw better. The jockey of And One More Time (3) ceded the lead to a stablemate who went wire to wire. New rider John Velazquez is likely to ride her more aggressively. Those tactics resulted in an all the way stakes win at Aqueduct prior to that. It will be interesting to see if the former Ralph Beckett trained Sandtrap (4) can improve again. Her last run was a step forward from her Stateside debut comeback win. Flavien Prat now takes the ride.

The other gal getting massive class relief from a Grade 1 is Hang the Moon (2). She ran a bit flat at Santa Anita last time. Her first two runs since moving to trainer Saffie Joseph were really good ones. She has the form to win this but a couple of things may play against her. The cut back to a mile doesn’t play into her strengths. In addition, the inner turf track at Saratoga is not normally great for coming from off the pace to win.

Onn paper, Monmouth stakes runner up Long Ago (6) is in a bit deep. If she makes the lead on her own, her chances of pulling off an upset increase no end. On form, Proctor Street (7) is a bigger threat. She’s not won this year but has ran well in defeat in her last three races – all graded stakes. The five-year-old has done some of her best work at Saratoga. Likely longshot Awesome Czech (8) has an even better record at this track.