US Horse Racing Tips: Paul’s three to watch on Friday

Our US Racing expert Paul Quigley has taken a look at all the races on offer across the pond to pick out his best bets for Friday.

Check out his US Racing Tips below, which come from Tampa Bay Downs and Keeneland.

20:46 Tampa Bay Downs (Race 7) - Perky @ SP

Notable Exchange (4) and Lady Embrace (1) were separated by half a length when they ran one-two in a similar event last month. Both are improving fillies and are obvious contenders.

They did get plenty of speed to chase down and there may be a different pace dynamic here. Dyna Soar (5) has more of a forward running style. She has won back to back starts on dirt. The chances are, she is a better filly than the one who lost to Miss Rummikub (7) on the turf in January. The last named has been flat out overmatched since. She was beaten 10 lengths in a stake last month but that was to the best three-year-old grass filly in America. This is a massive drop in class.

Perky (8) may be maintain her unbeaten record in this spot. She did look very professional on her career debut. There is no doubt she got a nice ground-saving trip but won by almost four lengths. She was likely fit and did wear blinkers so may not improve that much second time out. The probability she doesn’t have to.

Sparkling Ruby (2) was a winner of a claimer here last month. The speed figure she ran suggests she’s not out of place taking on better. Last time maiden winner Ms Kendrick B. (3) is a tougher read as she’s only ever raced on dirt. She is bred top and bottom for the turf.

21:50 Tampa Bay Downs (Race 9) - Retouch @ SP

Trainer Chad Brown has the worthy favourite in The Grade 1 feature at Keeneland. He may have a winner a few minutes earlier with Retouch (9). He was a two-time winner in France.

Based on the pick of his form, he may have too much for the locals on his Stateside debut. His best form came on soft ground and the underfoot conditions are likely to be firm here.

Interestingly, his dam won her only start for Brown at Saratoga. That was on a similar footing to what he’ll encounter. He’s been gelded since his last race but his entry in this spot seems a positive. His trainer often his lay off runners ready to do themselves justice on their comebacks.

The local standard setter is Royal Luck (8). He won a claimer here in December. Since then, he’s found one too good in a trio of handicaps. If the selection doesn’t fire on his return, he’s the most likely to take advantage. That said, Summer Cause (4) is new to grass racing and may improve as a result. He was in tough spots on dirt since a couple of good efforts in September and October. He’s been working on the turf for some time and must have impressed his trainer Christophe Clement

The speedy Tatanka (8) has been racing on Tapeta. He has playable form on turf. If he makes the lead on his own, he could outrun his odds. Magical Marriage (3) was a close up third in a similar race to this one in February.

Drama Chorus (1) is back at the level he won at in December. He was overmatched in a stakes race last time.

22:16 Keeneland (Race 9) - Integration @ SP

The comebacking Carl Spackler (6) is without question the horse to beat.

He won four stakes last year including a couple of Grade 1’s. The latest was over course and distance in October. A month later, he followed that up with a decent effort in defeat in The Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile.

He has a versatile running style so can be ridden prominently or taken back depending on how the pace is. There is a chance he’s a little ring-rusty but he won first time back in 2024 after a longer absence.

Carl Spackler (6) is likely to be a skinny price. Second favourite Integration (1) may be a playable alternative. He has been mainly campaigned over longer distances but is effective over a mile.

Under today’s rider Frankie Dettori, he lost The Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf by a neck in January. He did see plenty of daylight then and was ran down late on. His detractors can point out he was a well held third in this race last year. The late runner didn’t get any pace down then. This race plots to be run quicker early.

Funtastic Again (2) doesn’t stand much racing these days. A repeat of his Grade 1 second at Santa Anita last May puts him right there. Silent Heart (7) and Northern Invader (8) have a recency edge on him and the likely market leaders.

The first-named comes off a narrow defeat in a Grade 3 at Gulfstream. Northern Invader (8) is likely to take more money. He was made plenty of use of when second in a Grade 3 at Tampa on his return. Last July, he was a well held third to Carl Spackler (6) but was off very slowly.

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Paul Quigley is a long-time US racing fan and tipster. He provides US Horse Racing Tips for Betfred Insights as well as working for Betfred TV...