Last week wasn’t full of winners or places here for the US Extra Place Races column but we are back on Monday with three selections looking for a turn of fortune. Last time out we did have one nice place at double-digit odds, which was a boon to our confidence. As always all the picks are from outside the top-three according to the Morning Line Odds Stateside…

We start off with the first race of the day at Thistledown where the four-year-old filly More Mucho is the joint-fifth choice in the market and we like her chances to place. This Robert Smith trained horse has looked better at sprinter distances following two dabbles going a full mile in recent weeks. Back at six furlongs this evening, her speed figures are comparable with the third choice in the betting. With two very solid bullet works at Thistledown in the past few weeks, a top-three is certainly realistic. The short-price favourite Time For Cupid looks the class of the field so anyone beating her would be a bit of a surprise.

Next up in the Arctic Queen Stakes at Finger Lakes (21:09) we have a seven-horse field for what should be a quick one. My selection is Queen Arella who is two-years removed from a quite outstanding summer-season at the track where she would win four straight. Last year she raced twice, both times away from Finger Lakes and disappointed on both occasions. For 2023 a return to her favourite track and reaped results having won and been part of a very close finish with two of the horses ahead of her in the betting tonight. Every chance to hit the board from the joint-fourth choice in the market.

Last up for those staying up late is my old favourite stomping ground of Mountaineer Park where the 00:25 is a Betfred Extra Place Race. Out of the three selections in this column, this is the one I found the toughest as all four horses outside the top three in the betting are dirt horses being asked to switch to the turf. I’m therefore going for the one who has simply shown the most consistent high-end speed on the dirt and who specialises in four-and-a-half furlong races as my pick with Charitably Gifted getting the nod. I think this is the weakest selection of the three but still has a chance to place.