US Horse Racing Tips: Five to watch on Sunday

Our Stateside supremo Paul Quigley is back with his best bets from across the pond on Sunday.

His latest round of US horse racing tips takes him to Churchill Downs, with five picks up for consideration.

20:18 Churchill Downs (Race 6) - Password @ SP

All bar one of these juveniles are once raced so improvement is very likely.

The one exception is Romeo (4) who is hardly exposed. He ran into a pair of very smart two year olds when third in a stake at Saratoga on career race number two. So far, only Saul Elliott (6) has only ran faster than him. That was when a clear cut winner of a maiden in a fast time at Santa Anita last month. That was over four and a half furlongs but he should stay today’s distance.

Comport (5) beat Password (7) by two plus lengths on debut in a maiden over five-and-a-half furlongs earlier this month. The pair were pretty easy to back suggesting they weren’t fully cranked up. Both have worked well since. At face value, Comport (5) is likely to confirm the form. The fact that the connections of Password (7) want another crack at him is interesting. He gets the vote at the likely prices.

Spice Runner (1) was all the rage first time out and landed the odds in clear cut fashion. He has the best pedigree in this line up. The rail drawn runner will rightly have his supporters. Longstrider (2) and Duke of Suggins (3) didn’t run as fast on debut but did win their only race to date.

20:51 Churchill Downs (Race 7) - Americathegreat @ SP

Just like the stake for the males before this, there is little form bar one career race to go on. In the case of Vajra (2) not even that. She is a debutante. She’s been working well including with stablemate Password who runs in race six.

Her trainer doesn’t have a good record with first time starters. The booking of Irad Ortiz suggests she is live.

A quartet of these won their only starts over four and a half furlongs. Light Won Up (3) ran a big speed figure when scoring at Santa Anita.

A big run for her stablemate Saul Elliott in the previous race would be a tip to her chances. Unlike her, Lilies N Paradise (9) was weak in the market when winning here. More ground will suit her. Likewise Mine Strike (6) and Percy's Bar (7). The first named came from way back to score at Gulfstream.

Essential Coffee (1) was well backed on debut and thrashed a field of maidens here last month. She goes for a trainer who is no stranger to success in two year old stakes. Color Comin' In (8) was less spectacular but did beat Americathegreat (4) by three lengths on debut.

The regally bred runner up did blow the start and was double-digit lengths behind early on. She may be more professional second time out. In a race of many ways to go, she gets the vote.

21:23 Churchill Downs (Race 8) - Cagliostro @ SP

When Saudi Crown (4) is good, he is very good. Take out a couple of heavy losses in Grade 1’s and his CV over the last year or so reads very well. Last month at Oaklawn, he nosed out next time graded winner in a stake at Oaklawn.

He’s best bossing things from the outset and there is other speed in here. He did finish second to Banishing (1) in a stake in March. The rail drawn runner has ran three times since. His first two runs were super. He didn’t seem to stay nine furlongs last time. If a busy spell of late hasn’t caught up with him, he can win this.

Cagliostro (8) has not raced since at Meydan in March. Sometimes horses take a few runs to find their form shipping back Stateside. He still may be worth siding with here. He’s proven fresh, winning first time back in 2024.

That was one of two victories last term. The other was in this race where he beat Tumbarumba (5) by a length. He has been gelded since his last race. The fact that Jose Ortiz may have preferred Banishing (1) is a slight worry. His brother Irad is hardly a negative booking.

Last year’s runner up Tumbarumba (5) ran third to Will Take It (7) in a conditions event here last month. The pair are place chances. So too are Judge Miller (2) and Best Actor (3). Judge Miller (2) is likely to improve stepping up in distance and second time back.

He could be dangerous and may be best chance outside of the favourites. Best Actor (3) probably needs the lead on his own to upset these.

Extra Anejo (6) ran below his best when behind Banishing (1) in that Grade 1. His Grade 3 win at Keeneland prior to that is contending form.

21:55 Churchill Downs (Race 9) - Long Ago @ SP

Pin Up Betty (7) was only a neck away from being on a hat-trick. In her latest race over an extended mile, he beat Long Ago (5) by a length-and-a-half in a Grade 3 here. She has form over today’s distance and is progressing with racing. The four-year-old ticks a lot of the boxes with the possible exception of her price.

Charlene's Dream (8) is in fine form too. Prior to be run down late by Pin Up Betty (7), she wired a stakes field by almost four lengths at Pimlico. Nine furlongs may tax her stamina.

She may need an easy lead and soft early fractions to win this. Sparkle Blue (2) ran well below from when behind her at Pimlico. She may be better judged on a stakes runner up at Laurel prior to that.

Duvet Day (3) and Adrasteia (9) finished behind Pin Up Betty (7) and Charlene's Dream (8) last time. More pace to chase down and they could figure. That could happen if Long Ago (5) adds to the speed mix. She was claimed off an all the way victory here earlier this month. The former French trained mare can stalk and run her race. Maybe take her at a decent price here.

Generous Lover (4) has been running on the dirt. She is a talented Ohio bred who has back form on turf and/or open company. The five year old is not out of this if at her best.

22:27 Churchill Downs (Race 10) - Captain Cook @ SP

The feature race of the day is a competitive affair.

Trainer Brad Cox is double-handed. Flood Zone (8) won first time for him in a Grade 3 at Aqueduct. He’s had some time away after running no race in The Grade 2 UAE Derby. He has a versatile running style.

In a speed-laden affair, that is a positive. His stablemate Verifire (10) has shown early zip and stalked the pace in a perfect two for two in his career so far. This is a big step up in class. The way he's won both his races, he may be well up to the task. He’s the one to fear.

Four of these ran in a stake at Pimlico over six furlongs last month. The lightly raced Retribution (5) was the winner with Ancient World (1) third with Normandy Coast (3) and Perfect Force (4) further adrift. Retribution (5) meets a tougher field here but may improve now racing over another furlong.

A couple of runners dropping in class and shortening up in distance are of interest. The well named Speed King (7) was up against trip and class-wise in a Grade 1 and 2 at Oaklawn. Even when he won a Grade 3 over an extended mile, he looked like a sprinter. Whether he can win the pace battle and hold off the closers is another matter. He could set things up for the likes of Captain Cook (2). He’s another who has not looked like a natural stayer in route races.

Furio (13) gets a class test after running a career best in a conditions event here. He has a place chance. So too is Kale's Angel (11). He has been gelded since running third to Max Got Excited (9) in a stake at Oaklawn last month. The winner and Dreaminblue (12) would benefit from a pace meltdown.

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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...