US Horse Racing Tips: A hat-trick from Saratoga on Friday

Our Stateside expert, Paul Quigley, is back to provide his best bets from across the pond on Friday - and it's a hat-trick from Saratoga he has selected for tonight's action.

Check out his US Racing Tips below.

18:40 Saratoga (Race 3) -Major Dude (1) @ SP

Program Trading (4) figures to be a short price on his comeback. He has won five of his seven career starts including a pair of Grade 1’s. Chad Brown has found a very winnable ungraded stake to start his belated five year old campaign. He’s not raced since June 2024. His trainer has a good record with long term lay off horses. You do have to bear in mind, this race is not his target. He may be too good for these despite that. 

This may be a spot to side with likely second favourite Major Dude (1). He comes off a fine third in The Grade 2 United Nations at Monmouth. Donegal Momentum (5) did go wire to wire and beat him here in a Grade in June. That runner got a soft lead then and may find it harder to dominate this field.     

This is a deep race for the level so maybe not ideal for an up and comer. That said, General Jim (4) is progressing with racing. He may be worth considering at a double figure price.

22:03 Saratoga (Race 9) - Light Man (6) @ SP

Some of these like Baby Yoda (5) and Comedy Town (2) drop sharply in class after tackling much better races. Baby Yoda (5) took on Grade 2 company last time. When he’s good, he’s very good. At Aqueduct in June, he won a similar race to this one by open lengths. Consistency is not his strong point. Winning rider Flavien Prat is back onboard. Fellow dropper Comedy Town (2) has a chance off a victory at Churchill in May.              

El Grande O (1) is proven fresh so a lay off since February may not be an issue. His stablemate Light the Way (4) may be flattered by two victories in races taken off the turf. Discreet Mischief (3) may be a bigger threat. Take out his last run and his form was on an upward curve. Maybe at the prices, Light Man (6) is worth a small interest. He was coming off a long lay off when well third to Baby Yoda (5) in June. He has ran a good race in a state bred stake subsequently.

23:12 Saratoga (Race 11) - Les Reys (7) EW @ SP

Whatever way you look at this, the race goes through Dynamic Pricing (5). Chad Brown’s filly won a Grade 3 at Aqueduct in May. A month later, she bettered that when upsetting a talented stablemate in The Grade 1 Just A Game here. Although the form was reversed in The Grade 1 Diana, that was a deep renewal. A next time out Grade 1 winner split The Chad Brown trained pair. It can be argued with some justification her best runs have come on rain-affected turf. She has form on a firm surface to suggest she can make the most of the big class drop.           

Dynamic Pricing (5) may be the wrong side of even money come post time. She may be hard to beat but there are others in here worth considering at likely much bigger odds. Proctor Street (6) is a lightly raced improving four year old. She was a clear-cut winner of a conditions race here last month. There may be better to come from her. Raqiya (2) and A Lilac Rolla (4) ran below their best in different stakes behind Dynamic Pricing (5) this year. The pacey Raqiya (2) is a danger off an all the way Grade 3 victory at Del Mar last November. If fellow speedster New Rome (8) is scratched, that will help her chances. A Lilac Rolla (4) had classy form over here including a runner up try in The Group 1 Irish 1,000 Guineas. She ran too bad to be true on her Stateside debut.

Ribaltagaia (9) and Les Reys (7) were formerly trained in France. The first named hasn’t raced this year but his trainer has a fine record with lay off runners. Les Reys (7) was a little disappointing on her comeback but she had been away over eight months. It is worth bearing in mind, she had Dynamic Pricing (5) and Proctor Street (6) behind her when winning a stake at Aqueduct in December. Second time back, she has a chance of at least rounding out the forecast with Dynamic Pricing (5).   

Our Pretty Woman (10) has good form on dirt. She has a pedigree that suggests she may run big trying the turf for the first time.

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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...