US Horse Racing Tips: Paul Quigley’s two to watch from Saratoga

Paul Quigley, our Stateside expert, kicks off the weekend with two selections from across the pond on Saturday.

Both picks are from Saratoga, which you can find in his latest US Horse Racing Tips.

22:07 Saratoga - Just Beat The Odds @ SP

Many chances here. That said, Built (8) is likely to go to post as a clear-cut favourite. He's clocked some of the fastest times this year. A couple of them were in allowance conditions races. Last month, he went close in a Grade 3 at Churchill. He has tactical speed, so Irad Ortiz is likely to get a nice stalking trip from his outside draw.

Hymn (6) is less flashy on speed figures. He is a progressive four-year-old who has rattled up a hat-trick. The step up to stakes company was no problem at Laurel last month. He drew off nicely to win by five lengths.

Greg Sacco is one of two trainers double-handed in this lineup. His JUST BEAT THE ODDS (4) got very good at the end of his five-year-old season. He won a Grade 3 at Aqueduct in December. Of his two runs this year, the first when second in a Group 2 in Saudi Arabia is a contending effort. Maybe he needed his comeback after that trip to Riyadh.

In contrast to him, his stablemate Crazy Mason (2) has zero early speed. For a closer, he's run some of his best races on this often pace-favouring Saratoga track. That includes a third in a Grade 1 here last summer. He now races in blinkers first time in an effort to keep him more engaged early on.

Damon's Mound (1) has not raced since a wide-margin stakes win at Gulfstream in April. If he can repeat that from his rail draw, he can win this. Interestingly, he failed to last home in admittedly a deep running of this race last year.

His stablemate T Kraft (7) has a squeak based on his win at Churchill in May. He may be a better horse than the one that was well beaten in two graded stakes races here last summer.

Cat On Time (3) has won his last three starts, either side of a long layoff. He’s tested for class here, but his trainer always has to be respected with longshots in a stakes events. Nutella Fella (5) gets back to a venue he won a Grade 1 as a juvenile.

22:45 Saratoga - Directive @ SP

The likely front two in the market are no strangers to each other. In the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, Always A Runner (6) was the winner with Counting Stars (1) third. The form was reversed in The Grade 1 Acorn here last month, as Counting Stars ran out a nearly four-length winner. The race flow suited the stayer at Churchill Downs.

Last time, Counting Stars showed a real nice turn of foot in a more evenly-run race. There is more speed in here, but maybe not as much as in The Kentucky Oaks. Counting Stars is improving with racing and Always A Runner has only had four career starts, so ought to be progressive too.

The established Grade 1 winners are without the pair to beat. They are likely to be priced up accordingly. There are three, possibly four fillies in this lineup who may be capable of at least splitting them.

On her fine juvenile form, Zany (8) is definitely one of them. She blotted her copybook somewhat in a couple of Grade 1s including behind the big two in The Kentucky Oaks. Time away and blinkers on could see her back to her best.

Maybe the lightly-raced DIRECTIVE (7) has more upside at the prices. She’s a half-sister to same owners Juddmonte’s dual Grade 1 turf winner Segesta.

She may end up running on the grass but she can perform to a high standard on dirt too. Her detractors can point out she only beat likely improving longshot Measure (5) by a length last time. She still looked very green and won against an inside bias.

La Rascasse (3) is two for two in her career. She meets a far deeper field than the one she beat at Churchill last time. The fact that very capable trainer Will Walden pitches he in at the deep end is a big hint she is up to a race of this nature.