US Horse Racing Tips: Paul picks out three from across the pond on Friday

Our Stateside expert, Paul Quigley, is back on Friday to provide his best bets from the racing action from across the pond.

Check out his US Racing Tips below, which come from Colonial Downs and Saratoga.

22:00 Colonial Downs Race 3 - Hurricane Debbie (4) @ SP

Five of these fillies and mares were in action at this level over course and distance on 17 July. Simply Stated (2) made the most of the class relief to win by a length from Cavalier Cupid (6). As she ran to be claimed that day, she can come back at the same level and connections not risk losing her. The double up is a decent possibility. She, the runner up and the third Zo Lee (5) did benefit from being sat off a pace that collapsed late on. The likely race flow doesn’t look anywhere near as kind to the closers. Zo Lee (5) who has more tactical speed than she showed last time. It will be no surprise if she reverses the form.

With only one start in the last year or so, Hurricane Debbie (4) can’t be an easy mare to keep sound. She did run well after trouble early at Gulfstream in May. It seems a positive that her trainer Saffie Joseph has found this event and not a claimer. She has the back class to win a race of this nature. Joseph has a fine strike rate with limited starters at this meet. He has a good record with lay off runners.

Chickahominy (1) ran her best race for some time when fourth in a restricted stake here last month. She has a place chance on a track she’s ran some of her best races on. Gastown Babe (7) and Bahamian Moon (3) may be more of a win threat. The pair finished behind Simply Stated (2) in that 17 July race. Both mares were coming off lay offs. Gastown Babe (7) ran well in stakes last year. Bahamian Moon (3) ran some nice races from on or near the speed at Tampa last winter and spring. Sara Hess may be able to get her on the front without being used up too much. Her trainer doesn’t win that often but she has a surprisingly good record at this track.

Longshot: Bahamian Moon (3)

22:12 Saratoga Race 8 - Whiskey Decision (2) @ SP

It is worth checking the non runners for this race as one or two may defect. The most significant may be Be Your Best (1). She is also entered in The Beverly D at Colonial Downs on Saturday. That Grade 2 has a bigger purse, a smaller and a little weaker field than she is likely to face here. If she stands her ground, she’s the gal to beat. The five year old is much improved since joining trainer Saffie Joseph. She rattled up a hat-trick in graded stakes in the winter. It is easy to give her a pass for a below par effort in a deep Grade 1 on easy ground at Keeneland in April. She got back on a sound surface and wired a Grade 1 field at Santa Anita six weeks later. Her trainer has a fine record with lay off runners. She’s speedy but doesn’t need to lead to run her race.

If Be Your Best (1) runs, her main rivals come out of a Grade 3 at Monmouth. The first two home are trained by Chad Bown who has won this race eight times. Whiskey Decision (2) won by two lengths from stablemate Maggie Go (6) with Ozara (3) third. The winner came back to her three year old promise on her comeback and first start for Brown. She may be

worth siding with to confirm the form. That said, her old rivals have upside. The former Argentine based Maggie Go (6) was having her first start in almost a year. She had a wider trip than stable mate Whiskey Decision (2). Ozara (3) franked the form of that New Jersey race by winning a stake at Saratoga next time. She is progressing with racing.

The other last time out Saratoga stakes winner is Deep Satin (9). She has a similar progressive profile to Ozara (3) but more lightly raced. The speed figure she ran last time compares very favourably with the best of these. She always takes money and has never been bigger than 11/4 since her debut. That is a worry for value players If Be Your Best (1) is a non-runner.

If the rail drawn mare is scratched, her stablemate No Mo Candy (5) is likely to take her chances. She improved second time back to be narrowly beaten in a Grade 3 at Monmouth. She has speed but has to avoid a speed duel with Edict (4) and possibly Ocean Club (7). The last named upset a Grade 2 field at Woodbine in June. If stamina holds, she’s not out of this.

22:30 Colonial Downs Race 4 - Grammy Girl (9) @ SP

Passage East (3) is a filly who has improved rapidly in recent months. She made it a hat-trick of victories in a similar event to this one at Churchill in June. That run makes her the gal to beat. She does have another furlong to travel which based on her old form should not be a problem. There is a chance her last run flatters her a little as she did make the lead on her own. It would be no surprise if the runner up Brunch With Amy (5) reverses the form. She has ran another good race subsequently and shapes if more ground will suit.

Trainer Saffie Joseph has a fine strike rate at this meet. He is double-handed here. Basilea (1) comes off two fine efforts since joining him on the turf. She has to be reckoned with now trying the dirt for the first time. Her stablemate Grammy Girl (9) may be worth siding with. She could never go with a wide margin winner on a speed favouring track on her return. The four year old has back form including over today’s distance that makes her a player.

She's My Lady Luck (6) ran second in a similar to this one at Gulfstream on her last start on dirt. Likewise Dazzy (2) who was runner up over course and distance 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...