US Horse Racing Tips: A Friday four from Saratoga

Our Stateside expert, Paul Quigley, is back with Friday's US Racing Tips, serving up four selections, all from Saratoga.

You can check his tips down below...

22:07 Saratoga (Race 8) – Zulu Kingdom (4) @ SP

Whatever way you look at it, Zulu Kingdom (4) is clearly the runner to beat. His only loss in six career starts came in The Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. He’s looked improved at three winning back-to-back stakes. His career best came last time when winning a Grade 1 on The Kentucky Derby undercard. Prior to that, he beat Reagan's Wit (5) and Revolutionnaire (7) in a stake at Tampa. The winning distance was only a neck. He attended fast fractions, doing well to hold on in a race where the other pace horses fell away.

Reagan's Wit (5) was a tad disappointing at Keeneland next time after running Zulu Kingdom (4) close in Florida. He put that run behind him when winning a stake by three lengths at Pimlico. Based on that run and the one against the favourite, he looks the biggest danger to the market leader. Maybe at the odds, Capitol Hill (8) makes more appeal. Both his turf runs have been good. A maiden breaker over Uncatalyzed (6) at Tampa and a decent effort from an extreme wide post at Keeneland.

The two last time out maiden breakers go for top trainers. There wouldn’t be entered in this Grade 3 if not well thought of. Uncatalyzed (6) confirmed his debut promise behind Capitol Hill (8) to graduate at Aqueduct second time out. Strate Cash (10) was all the rage to win sprinting at Santa Anita first time out. He won well and is bred to handle today’s distance.

22:45 Saratoga (Race 9) – Final Gambit (6) @ SP

This looks like a wide-open renewal. Two runners that ran in The Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on dirt get back on the turf. Final Gambit (6) ran really well at Churchill Downs to be fourth. Less so on dirt next time, but he wasn’t seen to good effect in a race without any speed. He shaped well on his career debut in his one start on grass. His last victory was in a Grade 3 on Tapeta at Turfway in March. There, he outfinished the subsequent Kentucky Derby also-ran Flying Mohawk (8). He is a two-time winner on the grass and will definitely be suited by the surface switch.

Test Score (5) is a progressive and consistent three-year-old. He followed up a Grade 3 victory at Keeneland with a good second in a Grade 1 at Churchill. More ground today will suit him. The former Andrew Balding-trained New Century (4) finished only a nose behind him last time. Overexaggerated waiting tactics may have cost him the victory that day. He is reunited with Oisin Murphy, who won a Grade 1 on him as a two-year-old.

As well as New Century (4), players on this side of ‘The Pond’ will likely be familiar with Luther (3). He has shown improved form this year. On his comeback at Chelmsford, he ran second to a very good colt. He bettered that with a close-up fourth in The Group 1 French 2,000 Guineas. The third and the runner that beat him on his comeback ran one-three in.

The Group 1 French Derby. Luther (3) was well beaten there, but it could have been the soft ground or the extra distance. He may be a price after that run.

A couple of recent stakes winners add depth to this race. World Beater (7) was a winner at Churchill. Tank (1) made it a stakes hat-trick at Gulfstream last month. He meets a much tougher field here, but has a chance of stealing this if he gets an easy lead.

23:19 Saratoga (Race 10) – Antiquarian (7) @ SP

Trainer Todd Pletcher has two big chances in here. At his best, Locked (4) is the very likely winner. The four-year-old confirmed his progression when winning The Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap in March. He ran well below that in a Grade 2 at Churchill subsequently. In his defence, that was a slow early, fast late race, and he was parked in a bad position at the rear. There may be a little more speed in here to chase down. His stablemate Antiquarian (7) has the pace to make his own racing luck. He missed the second half of his three-year-old season but has returned with two fine efforts. In the latest, he ran second to rejuvenated 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan. He may get a no-excuse trip, likely on or just off the speed.

Awesome Aaron (8) and Phileas Fogg (1) have improved massively since joining their current trainers. The pair ran one-two in a Grade 3 at Pimlico on Preakness Weekend. They meet a better field here, but aren’t out of this. Maybe Phileas Fogg (1), who has a victory at Saratoga and could make the lead on his own, is slightly preferred.

Disarm (2) has run some of his best races here. He’s not quite been the force of old for some time now. The five-year-old did edge out Bendoog (5) in a minor event at Oaklawn in March. That runner has held his form well since, but may be a cut below the best in here. That is also the case with mile-and-a-half stakes winner Honor Marie (6). Longshot backers can point to his career-best effort being here when fourth in The Grade 1 Belmont Stakes.

23:51 Saratoga (Race 11) - Bring Theband Home (9) @ SP

Unless there are a few scratches, this has the look of a 4/1 field race. Felix (7) is making up for lost time after missing over a year. He was game in victory when nosing out Works for Me (6) in a minor event at Aqueduct in May. The runner-up franked the form when winning next time. Like most of these, he can win this if things break his way. That said, this may be a race to side with a forwardly ridden runner. Surveillance (3) has some speed. He has been running well on dirt but has form on turf. Maybe Bring Theband Home (9) can get the jump on him early on. Both his victories on turf have come when he’s made the lead on his own. That includes the last time Javier Castellano rode him when he scored over course and distance.

Witty (10) came from far back to win a stake easily at Pimlico in May. He is dangerous with the right setup. Mattingly (4) was well beaten by him in Maryland but may not have handled the rain-softened footing. Outlaw Kid (5) gives away a recent edge to them, and most of these. He’s not run since November but is proven fresh. He may be worth a saver.

Our Shot (2) was one of the best turf sprinters in America last year. In three starts this term, he’s run way short of his best. He does get significant class relief, and the ground may have gone against him here last month.

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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...