US Horse Racing Tips: Three picks for Friday

Our Stateside supremo Paul Quigley is back with his best bets from across the pond on Friday.

His latest round of US horse racing tips takes him to Belmont At The Big A and Churchill Downs, with three up for consideration.

21:43 Belmont At The Big A (Race 8) - Sand Devil @ SP

This is an interesting stakes quality allowance event. Some of the field have form at higher levels. Vekoma Rides (2) has had only three career starts. He bounced back to form with a close up second in a stake here last November. That was his last start. He makes his three year old debut after some encouraging morning workouts. His trainer has a fair record with retuning horses. As he won on his career debut, he is proven fresh. Of all the runners in here, he may have the most improvement in him.

Vekoma Rides (2) gives up a recency edge to almost all his rivals. One of them is Sand Devil (4). He had My Mitole (1) four lengths back in third when second at this level here last month. The winner of that race is a promising colt.

That race was over a mile. Arguably his best effort came when beating New York breds over course and distance. His old rival My Mitole (1) ran below the form that saw him ran third in a swiftly run race in April.

Wes Ward has an amazing record with the few runners he’s had at this meet. His Touchy (8) may add to his trainer’s gaudy stats. Besides a maiden win last year, he’s only ever ran in stakes races. His latest effort was his best.

He ran second over six furlongs at Pimlico on The Preakness undercard. More ground is unlikely to be his undoing. Interestingly, he runs with lasix for the first time in his career.

Train the Trainer (6) has won back-to-back races since joining trainer Rob Atras. In the latest just over three weeks ago, he wired a field of New York breds to win a stake over course and distance. The speed figure he ran makes him competitive with this group. As he could make the lead on his own, he may be tough to reel in. With one of his best starts, Uncle Jim (5) may be able to run with him early on. This is a stronger field than the one he made all against just over a week ago.

21:55 Churchill Downs (Race 9) - (on turf): One Timer @ SP (on dirt): Go Captain @ SP

There is rain forecast. If this race is switched to the dirt, Go Captain (2) may be the runner to beat. He is a big player if this stays on the turf too. He’s a lightly raced four year old who may be capable of better. Last month over course and distance, he wired a field of one time career winners in a fast time. He meets a better field here but there is a decent chance he’s loose on the lead.

One Timer (3) is an established and talented sprinter with stakes form to his name. He made a fine return after a break here last month. The six-year-old ran third to a former Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup winner. His trainer Larry Rivelli hasn’t ran many at this meet. He has won with half the eight horses he’s started. He may add to his fine stats here.

Five of these ran in a similar race to this one here earlier this month. Let My People Go (4) and Script (10) were separated by a head when they filled the places. Both were coming off breaks. The first named is a long, losing run but has been highly tried.

Script (10) bounced back to form returning to the turf. Both runners are good chances to make the frame again. Of those that finished behind the pair, B D Valeski (1) draws better and Test Factor (6) did wet wicked early fractions. There are scenarios where they run better.

Bad Beat Brian (5) is win shy eight year old but has a chance off his third at today’s level on his return. 

22:27 Churchill Downs (Race 10) - Little Prankster @ SP

This is a stakes quality allowance optional claimer. The likely favourite Almostgone Rocket (3) ran in a Grade 3 at Aqueduct last month. That wasn’t her best run but she was bumped at the break. She won her first three starts last year including a stake by open lengths at Saratoga. Her comeback was fine. If you forgive that troubled run in New York then you have the likely winner.

Harbor Springs (8) rounded out 2024 with a wide margin victory here in November. She scored again on her comeback at The Fair Grounds. Her winning run came to an end in a stake over course and distance in April. She lost nothing in defeat, finishing third. She’s been working well for her first start since April.

Little Prankster (7) may be the play at the odds. She was a progressive three year old culminating a stakes runner up in November 2023. Her career was interrupted by a setback and she missed all of last year. Her comeback on turf which is not her surface may have been just about getting a run into her. She’s worked well since and Jose Ortiz has been booked for the ride.

Top Gun Girl (9) ran second in at this level over seven and a half furlongs last month. The cut back in distance will suit. She may be part of the pace brigade. So too could Everyoneloveslinda (10). She comes off a pair of good placed efforts at Aqueduct. Her trainer is back in form after a barren spell. She looks interesting under Frankie Dettori.

Marmalade Skye (1) is much improved. She won a high-end claimer before scoring at the level below this one.

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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...