US Horse Racing Tips: Four to watch on Saturday

Paul Quigley, our US Horse Racing expert, is back to kickstart the weekend with four from across the pond for Saturday January 3.

Check out his latest US Horse Racing Tips below.

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New customers only. Deposit via Debit Card & place first bet £10+ (1/1+) on Sports in 7 days. £30 Sports & £20 Acca Free Bets within 10 hrs of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment excl. & T&Cs Apply.

18:10 Aqueduct (Race 3) - Enforced Agenda @ SP

It’s only the first week in January and this is the first of many Kentucky Derby trials for these newly turned three-year-olds. There are Derby qualifying points on offer. Whether any of these field will make the line up on the first Saturday in May is another matter. That said, there are some promising horses in this line up.

Balboa (4) is one of a trio of stakes winners in here. He was a clear-cut winner of one sprinting at Laurel. His last run was even better. He ran third to a pair of very promising colts in a Grade 2 over nine furlongs here last month. He’s progressing and improved since joining trainer Brittany Russell. The cut back to a mile will suit.

My World (3) may challenge Balboa (4) for favouritism. He followed up a maiden win with a three length score in a stake over course and distance. The form of that race has taken a couple of knocks since. He did run a speed figure that suggests he's a big player.

Mailata (5) has won back to back stakes for Pennsylvania breds. The latest was only on Tuesday so it must be a doubtful runner. He has to be reckoned with if he returns on short rest. Freedom's Echo (2) was scratched from the same Philadelphia stake on Tuesday so may take his chances.

He trounced a field of maiden claimers by 11 lengths last time. Enforced Agenda (1) was less impressive but may be a bigger danger. He beat a much better field of maidens here, despite looking green. The third horse came back to win. That was his career debut so there may be a lot better to come.

19:48 Gulfstream Park (Race 6) - Sister Troienne @ SP

Sister Troienne (6) is likely to head the market. She has won all three of her starts since her debut. The latest was by three lengths on The Tapeta here. Prior to that, she was just as impressive when taking a conditions event at Keeneland on the turf. She has a good turn of foot and doesn’t seem to be pace dependent. R Slew of Cash (3) finished third to her last time. She may be suited to getting back to the turf.

Spirit Doll (4) took her form to a new level when trying the turf for the first time. She won a stake by six lengths with Bayou Brigid (5) even further back in third. It wasn’t a major surprise the surface switch improved her as her dam was a Grade 2 runner-up on the grass. She can win this off that wide margin victory but was helped as favourite Storm's Wake (1) never ran a step.

The rail drawn filly has a chance off a win at Churchill against the boys prior to that. It may be significant trainer Brian Lynch runs her as he has Sister Troienne (6) in this lie up.

Bert's Knoty Girl (2) ran a career best when winning a conditions event here last month. The well bred Tideoftime (8) will be a shorter price but looks a bigger threat to the favourites. She followed up a debut win with a fourth in a stakes event at Aqueduct.

The two-length winner looks a very talented filly. She was beaten only a neck for second. If she improves a little, she may upstage Sister Troienne (6) and Spirit Doll (4).

21:48 Gulfstream Park (Race 10) - Commandment @ SP

Those runners who have already raced against winners look beatable. With that in mind, a pair of last time out maiden winners may head the market. In the case of Epic Summer (3), it was his only start to date. He beat an impressive next time out maiden winner by three lengths.

He’s bred to be suited by the added ground today. He may have competition for the lead if ridden the same way as on his debut. The twice-raced Commandment (1) could get a better trip. He more than confirmed his debut promise, graduating at Churchill by five lengths. His rail draw is not ideal but he should get plenty of speed to chase down.

Cabourg (2) ran a neck second in a conditions event over course and distance last month. He may need the last time out maiden winners to disappoint to get more than a minor award. The same can be said for Thunder Chuck (9) and Tripp's Promise (6). The first named ran a career best when second in a stake sprinting here in November. Last time Churchill third Tripp's Promise (6) could be a late player.

Roger That Dana (5) didn’t seem to the extended mile last time. Blame Yasself (7) could be anything based on his debut victory.

22:25 Oaklawn Park (Race 10) - Strategic Risk @ SP

Based on what they have achieved so far Universe (1) sets the standard. He has been placed in a trio of graded stakes since winning on his debut. The rail drawn runner can sit handier than he did when second at Churchill last time. Interestingly, there he was beaten by a colt trained by Brad Cox. He has another player here in Rancho Santa Fe (5).

At Keeneland in October, he made it two from two when winning a conditions event. The placed horses franked the form by both scoring next time.

It is hard to know how they will bet this race. There is a possibility that it is decent prices bar Rancho Santa Fe (5) and Universe (1). If that is the case, it may be worth trying one of them. Boca Beach Club (3) improved off a debut win to run second in a stake sprinting here. He is bred to stay this distance. Like a few in here, there may be better to come from him.

The Mark Casse trained duo have upside. Silent Tactic (4) comes off a runner up try in a Grade 3 on The Tapeta at Woodbine. Dirt is the unknown with him. Not so stablemate Strategic Risk (7). He blew away a field of Florida breds last month. That run did come out of the blue. He has worked well since, suggesting the penny may have dropped with him.

Oscar's Hope (6) and Scar Ship (8) both come off big efforts in stakes in Louisiana. The first named has the better form with good efforts in Kentucky. Scar Ship (8) may outrun his odds if he makes the lead on his own.

Sleepingonfreedom (9) was stepped up to this trip for the first time and ran his best race to date. Off that conditions victory at Churchill in November, he can’t be dismissed.