US Horse Racing Tips: Troubler to cause mischief at Churchill Downs

Our US Racing expert, Paul Quigley, returns today with his Stateside selection.

A couple of races from Churchill Downs, and one from Santa Anita, feature in his US Horse Racing Tips for Friday, May 30, which you can check out below...

19:13 Churchill Downs (Race 4) - Troubler (2) @ SP

Innocent Nyght (7) looks like the gal to catch. She was in too deep on her comeback in a much better maiden than this one. Prior to that, she twice ran third for today’s claiming price. She’s quite speedy, so the cut back to five-and-a-half furlongs should suit. Depending on how deep this race comes up, career start number 14 could be a charm.

Amelia's Echo (4) ran her best race to date when second against a field of state breds in California in September. She has not raced since then. The three-year-old has been working well, and her trainer has had some success with layoff runners lately. She is a possibility. So too is Nola Louise (3). She had two starts in maiden special weights at Turfway since her career unveiling. That debut came over course and distance when she missed by a head.

Those fillies with form look beatable. With that in mind, the unexposed runners are worth a second look. Hard to Get (8) is a first-time starter who is a half sister to five winners. She has been working forwardly. A market move for her may be significant. Maybe the once-raced Troubler (2) can win this on her three-year-old debut. She was a well-held third on her career debut here last June. The runner-up has developed into a stakes winner. She makes her comeback and second start, dropping in class and racing with Lasix for the first time. Her in-form trainer, Norm Casse, has a good record with returning runners. He has a good record when he uses jockey Luis Saez, too.

Cocktail Humor (1) drops in class. She had shaped well in higher maiden claimers prior to that. Daring Hope (6) ran well in his one start in a maiden claimer sprinting. She is likely to rebound, cutting back from a mile. Party Pauline (5) is a tough read. She was off slowly and well beaten in a maiden on turf on debut. She gets class relief and a switch to the dirt second time out.

21:22 Churchill Downs (Race 8) - Normandy Queen (2) @ SP

There is an interesting race with runners both going up and cutting back to this intermediate distance. Tripolina (9) returned to near her best when a closing second in a stake over six furlongs here last month. She is effective over further with a Grade 3 runner-up over an extended mile earlier in her career. The four-year-old did get a fast pace to chase down last time. This race is plotted to be run slower, but she is a big player now, back in top form.

A slight preference is for the Normandy Queen (2) here. She has shown plenty of talent in California, and her two starts since changing trainers. Over a mile here on Kentucky Derby Day. She was involved in a speed duel and faded to fourth. That race fell apart late on with the principals coming from off the pace. The slightly shorter distance should suit. With the right ride from Luis Saez, she can go close.

The hat-trick seeking pair Bourbon Breeze (3) and Marmalade Skye (4) both step up from six furlongs. They may be able to run their race over a one-turn seven-and-a-half furlongs. Bourbon Breeze (3) is two for two since a trainer change. She has excelled on wet tracks lately, but has form on a dry surface. Marmalade Skye (4) has been even more impressive. She won at this level here last time, so is a nice fit class-wise.

Zadorsky (7) slammed a field at Keeneland by nine lengths last month. Based on that run, she is worth considering despite the class rise. Some speed to chase down will suit her. Likewise, Catmint (8), who is inconsistent but a capable closer when on her game.

The X Factor here is Dulce Despertar (5) on her Stateside debut. She was a Grade 1 winner in Argentina who makes her first start since October. She’s been working well.

21:30 Santa Anita (Race 2) - Auditory (2) @ SP

Auditory (2) has spent a lot of her career racing on the turf. Her dirt runs have been good. That includes a comeback victory over course and distance earlier this month. In truth, she faced a simple task as the odds-on favourite against overmatched rivals. She did win by seven widening lengths. That run made her eligible for starter events like this one. She does run for a new trainer, which could be an issue. That said, she looks the gal to beat.

The selection has speed, but her rider may have to resort to stalking tactics as Honorable Gal (1) looks quicker early. Like a few of this field, she has been racing a Los Alamitos. She does have two fine placed efforts in similar races to this one in her last spell at Santa Anita. The win-shy Chollima (3) may be less of a threat. She is worth considering for the forecast. The last time she raced here, she was a decent fourth after starting slowly.

If Rose of Jericho (4) repeats her last run, she can win this. She won a claimer by four lengths from Roman Empress (6) in a fast time. Tessa (5) and Roses R Blue (7) finished further adrift. The extra half a furlong today won’t be an issue.

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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...