US Horse Racing Tips: Our Stateside Sunday best

Our US Racing expert, Paul Quigley, is back today with three selections from across the pond.

Check out his US Racing Tips for Sunday, April 20, below.

19:21 Gulfstream Park (Race 4) – Hala Blue (4) @ SP

The class-dropping Warda (7) has a speed figure edge on her rivals. She has been running in much deeper starter events, running third in a couple of them in January and February. The four-year-old has had many chances to win career race number two. In fairness, all of her losses bar one since her maiden win have come in much better races. She draws well to get a stalking trip. If she brings her A game, she may get back to winning ways.

Supers Lucky Lady (2) is another who has struggled to get her head in front. She has run second in back-to-back races since dropping to today’s level. She’s been freshened up, which is a good angle with her trainer. Her form looks marginally better than In Other Words (1). She had Honor Her (6) just behind her when fourth when taking fellow three-year-olds last month.

There are a couple of new faces to sprints here. Hala Blue (4) broke her maiden second time out sprinting at Southwell. She has run evenly in two much better races over a mile Stateside. Getting back on Tapeta and cutting back in distance, and a big class drop could mean a much better effort. Sky Baby (3) gets similar massive class relief. She looked good breaking her maiden first time out at Philadelphia before struggling in a pair of tougher spots. It is interesting that her new trainer wants to try her on synthetics.

The most unexposed filly in this line-up is Oshala (5). She looked very professional on debut, stalking the pace and making a decisive move on the turn. The winning margin was almost three lengths. The early fractions here are likely to be faster, but it will be no surprise if she doubles up.

19:35 Lone Star Park (Race 1) – Bergheim (5) @ SP

Two runners with stakes form will take money here. Golden Grit (2) was an upset winner of a stake at Sam Houston in February. He was a maiden at the time, but there didn’t seem to be any fluke in that performance. It is safe to ignore his subsequent start, as it was an experiment over a mile on turf. He is a big player, but it is Bergheim (5) that gets top billing. Despite being the most exposed three-year-old in here, he is showing progressive form. He had King Adolis (3) well behind him when an allowance event at Sam Houston in February. On his return just over a fortnight ago, he bettered that. He ran third in a well-run stake at Evangeline Downs. His last victory came after a similar short turnaround, so there are chances he holds his form.

Essay (4) ran fourth in a stake at Sam Houston in January. His two runs since weren’t as good, but had excuses, pace and draw-wise. He is not out of this. Neither is Rocky Rock It (1). He was a near three-length winner of a maiden at Sam Houston at the start of the month. It would be interesting to know if David Cabrera got off him to ride Essay (4) or connections wanted to use defending Lone Star riding title winner Stewart Elliott.

Midnight Humor (6) is the wild card in here. The stablemate of the selection was badly beaten in a couple of starts since he returned as a three-year-old. At first glance, the stakes runner-up here as a juvenile seems not to have trained on. He has posted a couple of fine workouts since his last run, suggesting he may come back to his two-year-old form.

19:51 Gulfstream Park (Race 5) – Surf's Up (3) @ SP

Mr. Binks (7) is the standard setter. His best run came last month on career start number four. Over course and distance, he ran a neck second in a swiftly run maiden. The chances are he may be loose on the lead here. That and a repeat of his last run may be enough to get him over the hump. His trainer is having a lean time, to say the least. He has got him to run big in two starts since racing with Lasix.

Go Win Won (8) has run two fine races in his career so far. Both have resulted in placed efforts. He does take a slight rise in class, but this may not turn out to be a deep maiden special weight. This is his first start on turf after running on Tapeta. Wampanoag Chief (6) finished behind him last time but was making his career debut. He shaped well, stalking the pace and only fading in the latter stages.

First Navy Jack (4) and Otter Mischief (5) both cut back from one-mile races. The first named has not raced since fading in a maiden at Horseshoe Indiana last October. He’s been working forward, so he may fire first time back. Unlike him, Otter Mischief (5) has no fitness worries. He has been on the lead and faded to different extents in a trio of maiden claimers here. The chances are he lands in a nice spot just off the speed. He is one for the forecast at least.

What It Tiz (1) and Surf's Up (3) are other once raced horses in here. Both ran much better than their beaten lengths suggest. What It Tiz (1) was well backed but faded after stalking the pace. Surf's Up (3) took money on debut at Laurel last August. He was off slowly and rushed to be in contention. His trainer sent him to the sidelines. He makes his comeback in blinkers first time and racing with Lasix. It is interesting that he makes his return on the turf. He may be a price off that nine-length loss. George Weaver has a fine record with lay-off runners.

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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...