US Horse Racing Tips: Paul Quigley’s Best Bets for Saturday’s Races Stateside

Our US Racing expert Paul Quigley is back with a look at some of the big races on Saturday across the pond and he's focusing on Florida, with two selections from Tampa Bay Downs and another from Gulfstream Park. His Best Bet on Friday came home as Triumphant Road was...triumphant, breaking his maiden at the 14th time of asking.

Check out who he likes this evening as he takes us through his US Horse Racing Tips for Saturday night Stateside...

The best of the Stateside stakes action Saturday comes from The Fair Grounds. The Louisiana track hosts likely Kentucky and Oaks preps in The Grade 2 Risen Star and Grade 3 Rachel Alexandra. Both races are likely to have clear cut if not prohibitive favourites. The Grade 2 Risen Star (00:30) sees the three year old debut of No4 East Avenue.

The Keeneland Grade 1 winner was fancied to win The Breeders' Cup Juvenile but stumbled badly at the start, almost losing jockey Tyler Gaffalione. Bearing in mind his previous promise and a dearth of speed in this race, he may be on the wrong side of even money come post time.

He's owned by Godolphin who have a good chance of a big race double with No3 Good Cheer in The Grade 3 Rachel Alexandra (00:00). She was unbeaten in four starts at two culminating in a graded stakes victory at Churchill. Unlike East Avenue who is likely to be on the lead, Good Cheer will have a talented and unbeaten runner to catch in No6 Simply Joking.

The feature stakes at The Fair Grounds are fascinating but there is not a lot of 'juice' as far as betting is concerned. The selections below offer far more jeopardy but the odds of reward are far better.

Tampa Bay Downs Race 8 (20:48) – No6 Action Seeker 

No1 Supreme Dominance gets a class test after winning a $5,000 claimer here last month. He's an improving four-year-old who looks up to today's higher level. Now with an in form trainer, he's a definite contender. He may be second favourite behind the hat-trick seeking No8 Catatumbo. He's come to life since having his sights lowered and returned to the dirt. His latest victory came over seven furlongs but did win over a mile plus two starts back. He's been kept busy but is holding his form well.   

No6 Action Seeker has five lengths to find with No8 Catatumbo from last time. He was used up in a speed duel which cost him and the runner he locked horns with. The pace profile seems a lot kinder here with the possibility of the lead on his own. If that is the case, he could reverse the form or at least finish a lot closer to his old rival.    

Tampa Bay Downs Race 9 (21:20) - No2 Parchment Party 

Some promising blue bloods in here but an upgraded claimer will rightly have his supporters.  No4 Read On beat two decent yardsticks by open plus lengths at Gulfstream last month. The fact that his trainer doesn't offer him for sale seems a positive.

It will be interesting to see how much money him and No7 Deuteronomy take. He's on a hat-trick after a maiden and an allowance victory locally. He needs to improve but his trainer is renowned for bringing his horses along steadily. The four year old may turn out to be as talented as his graded stakes winning dam.  

No9 Card Trick was in too deep in a Grade 3 last time. Prior to that, he ran second at today's level. He's a proven commodity on the turf. Not so No2 Parchment Party.

He won his first two career starts on dirt but missed a lot of his three year old season. It is interesting his trainer starts him back on the grass. Some of his siblings excelled on the surface. He's been working forwardly and is proven fresh. He should be a price with against the sharp No4 Read On and progressive No7 Deuteronomy.            

Gulfstream Park Race 9 (21:22) – No6 Uno Mas Bourbon 

I have no knocks on likely short priced favourite No4 Knightsbridge. He made it two from two in his career when winning an allowance event over course and distance last March. He missed a lot of his three-year-old season but fired big on his comeback last month. At Keeneland in a swiftly run Grade 3, he was beaten a length into third. Now dropping his class for his return, he is without question the runner to beat. 

This race is hardly a gimme for No4 Knightsbridge as some if his rivals have contending form. Trainer Saffie Joseph is double handed. Both No5 One Sharp Cookie and No7 Positive Review come off good efforts. They could be part of a crowded front end.

If that pair and all the front end types run, it does make No6 Uno Mas Bourbon a chance from off the pace. He's been a slow burner but progressed to win a stake at Louisiana Downs in September. He was far from disgraced in graded company subsequently. He has been working well for his return for a trainer having a fine meet.     

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...