US Horse Racing Tips: Paul Quigley’s late-night Sunday double

Our Stateside expert Paul Quigley is back with another double, late on Sunday night and into the early hours of Monday.

Read on for his US horse racing tips, from Ellis Park and Del Mar.

20:12 Ellis Park - Spun Candy (7) each way @ SP

This race sees the return of Bob Baffert’s Nimah (9). She was all the rage on debut at Del Mar last November and made all. On the back of that, she was made odds-on for a Grade 2 a fortnight or so later at Los Alamitos.

There must have been something amiss as she was well-held and hasn't raced since. She could still be a graded filly and has a chance to prove it on Sunday in this winnable event.

The best of her rivals, on paper at least, is Moonlight Dash (8). She ran second in a similar race to this one on her three-year-old debut at Churchill. The third and fourth-placed finishers have both come back to score.

She is the leader of the opposition along with Overcome Adversity (3). The four-year-old ran second in a swiftly-run conditions event here on her return. She represents a low-profile trainer whose Ellis Park string are in fine form.

SPUN CANDY (7) is much more exposed than her likely shorter-priced rivals. She had an excuse for a run at Churchill in May. Either side of that, she won a high-end claimer and a starter. Both by clear-cut margins. This is a step up in class but her best effort may get her on the podium at least here.

Irresistible (2) and Trusty Troutman (4) were both well beaten last time. The pair caught much better fields at Saratoga and Churchill respectively.

Fair Grounds maiden winner Kayla's Komet (1) ran well on her first start facing winners.

02:10 Del Mar - Formidable Man (8) @ SP

This sees a match-up between FORMIDABLE MAN (8) and Gold Phoenix (5). The pair are the best two older turf horses in California and their paths haven’t crossed until today.

Formidable Man mainly races over a mile, whereas Gold Phoenix excels over 10 furlongs plus. The former had no problem with today’s distance, winning this race last year from Cabo Spirit (3) and Stay Hot (6).

He made it six-from-six at Del Mar when taking a Grade 2 here in August. His only loss at this track was in The Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile in November. That was arguably a career-best effort when he beat all but globetrotter Notable Speech. He proved he has trained on when readily beating Almendares (4) in The Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita on his five-year-old debut.

Formidable Man has tactical speed so can make his own racing luck. Gold Phoenix gets behind in his races and has a strong finish. He’s won his last two starts (both Grade 3s) over extended trips in California. The eight-year-old is effective over shorter but he is not the dominant force he is over a mile and a quarter plus.

If you want to oppose Formidable Man, maybe Cabo Spirit is the play.

He was afforded an easy lead when second to his reopposing rival in the 2025 renewal. Veteran Mike Smith may be able to dole out sedate early fractions.

Mondego (2), Seal Team (7) and Almendares (4) are all possibilities for the forecast. The first-named has been ridden more forwardly since Emisael Jaramillo has taken over in the saddle.

Astronomer hasn’t won since 2023. There has been some glorious defeats since then. Mi Hermano Ramon (9) is another runner in here that saves his best for Del Mar.