US Horse Racing Tips: Two to monitor on Friday

Paul Quigley, our US Horse Racing expert, is back on Friday to provide his best bets from the day's action across the pond. His two selections come from Aqueduct and Oaklawn Park.

Check out his latest US Horse Racing Tips below.

21:20 Aqueduct (Race 10) – The Withers Stakes – Grittiness (1) @ SP

The most accomplished runner in this line up is Pennsylvania shipper Mailata (5). He has won back to back stakes at Philadelphia. The first was a clear-cut victory over state breds. Last time it was in open company. He thrashed overmatched rivals by almost twenty lengths.

His stamina may be tested, especially if a few of these run with him early. He should be a price as Chad Brown’s duo are likely to head the market. Both horses broke their maidens in decent times locally. Schoolyardsuperman (2) was the more impressive but Ottinho (3) beat a better field. The pair are lightly raced and should have plenty of improvement to come. Their trainer won this race in 2021 and 2022 with runners with similar profiles.               

Talk to Me Jimmy (6) and Fourth and One (7) are other last time out maiden winners in here. The first named has had only two starts. Fourth and One (7) had been placed in a pair of New York bred stakes. He’s bred to come into his own over today’s distance.

Unlike them, Grittiness (1) hasn’t got his head in front yet. He did run second to a nice type here in November. His last run can be forgiven. He was in deep in a Grade 2 and had a very wide trip. To win this, he will need some help up front but he may get fast fractions to chase down.

22:40 Oaklawn Park (Race 11) – The Southwest (Grade 3) – Rancho Santa Fe (4) @ SP

A large field and deep renewal. There will be at least one key scratch. Litmus Test (5) is not going to ship from California leaving Buetane (3) the only runner for trainer Bob Baffert. He’s ran well both starts since breaking his maiden on debut.

At Saratoga, he was second best to leading juvenile Ted Noffey. He was runner up to a promising colt in a Grade 2 at Santa Anita in his last start. The furthest he has gone in race is seven furlongs. Most of his siblings were sprinters but his half sister did stay today’s distance. Baffert is no stranger to success in these Kentucky Derby preps at this track.     

The first five home from a stake run here on 3 January reoppose. Strategic Risk (9) won by four lengths. The penny has suddenly dropped with him after a big win at Gulfstream the time before. In theory, he should confirm the form.

He did sit close to very slow fractions and was a big tactical advantage. That can’t be said for Silent Tactic (11) and Rancho Santa Fe (4). The pair never had a chance where they were positioned early in a slowly run affair. Silent Tactic (11) did well to be a staying on second.

He is playable but maybe the draw favours and Rancho Santa Fe (4) more. His victory at Keeneland in October has been franked by the placed horses. He now gets a massive rider switch to Flavien Prat.                  

The X Factor in here is D'code (2). He broke his maiden in a super time by open lengths on debut. That was over six furlongs but he is bred to handle today’s distance. Whether it is what he wants on career start number with other speed in here is another matter.

He is dangerous. Liberty National (7) and Soldier N Diplomat (13) are possibilities at likely bigger prices. The first named stayed on well to just miss in a stake at The Fair Grounds in December. Soldier N Diplomat (13) ran well the way the race was run when third in a Grade 2 at Churchill in November.