US Horse Racing Tips: Three to watch on Saturday

Paul Quigley, our US Horse Racing expert, kicks off the weekend with his best bets from across the pond, and he focuses on the action at Gulfstream, Tampa Bay Downs and Santa Anita.

Check out his latest US Horse Racing Tips below.

21:49 Gulfstream Park - Moon Spun @ SP

There are quite a few ways to go here but it may be best to side with the blindingly obvious. Moon Spun (7) is making up for lost time after over a year away. She has won back to back races including a stake over course and distance in late December. Her trainer continues in fine form at this meet and jockey Javier Castellano has got a good tune out of her. She’s speedy but draws outside the other pace types. The five-year-old didn’t get it easy on the front last time and still ran big.

Flamingo Way (1) has got really good all of a sudden. She won a conditions event here by almost three lengths. The form of that race was given a boost when the fourth Le Amazonia (2) came back to score. On the back of that victory, she was fancied to beat Moon Spun (7) in that stake. She would have gone very close and probably won if her rider had found clear sailing in the straight. Veteran jockey Joe Bravo may know more about her second time aboard. If he can work out a trip from the rail, she could reverse the form.

Without Cause (4) is interesting on her comeback. She has looked much improved since cutting back from route races. At Woodbine last summer, she came within a head of back to back conditions victories over six furlongs. She has been working really well for her return. Five furlongs may be not an issue as she’s not short of speed. Twirling Queen (6) has no problem with today’s distance. She is a multiple stakes winner who may be aggressively ridden from the outset. Her very talented trainer is having an unusual quiet spell. She can win this if on her game.

Cart Girl Sam (8) has been freshened since a fine runner up try in a stake at The Fair Grounds in late November. She has an adaptable running style out-pacing Twirling Queen (6) at Colonial Downs in September.

22:30 Tampa Bay Downs - Renegade @ SP

Confessional (1) will be one of the favourites here. He won well in a maiden on debut at Keeneland in October. Two-and-a-half months later, he was made odds on for an allowance conditions event at Gulfstream. He was beaten five lengths into second. That was a swiftly run event franked when the winner romped in a Grade 3 last Saturday. He’s bred to improve for the step up in distance. His trainer Brad Cox has a fine record with the few runners he sends to Tampa. Top rider Flavien Prat ships in for the ride.

Todd Pletcher is double-handed. His Epic Desire (2) got back on the dirt and broke his maiden here last month. His stablemate Renegade (6) looks the trainer’s first string. He was first past the post in a maiden at Aqueduct in October. The promoted winner scored in a Grade 2 there next time. He ran second to him in that race but did have a wide trip. Irad Ortiz who rode Confessional (1) and him last time stays on The Pletcher runner.

Dr. Kapur (9) looked good breaking his maiden at Keeneland in October. It is easy to forgive his only run since in a Grade 2 at Churchill. His rider set very quick early fractions and he paid the price late on. If The Puma (3) takes his chance, he may challenge him early on. He ran second to a very promising type on debut at Gulfstream last month.

The maiden Ocelli (5) has ran well in all his three career starts. Wayne's Law (7) is more accomplished. He won well in a stake at Gulfstream before running third in another at Delta Downs.

00:05 Santa Anita - Secured Freedom @ SP

As is often the case in stakes for three year olds in California, Bob Baffert has multiple entries. His first string seems to be Desert Gate (1). He won a Grade 3 by eight lengths second time out. Since then, he’s been runner up in back to back Grade 1’s.

In the latest in October, he set decent fractions and was ran down late by Intrepido (4). He missed The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile after a training setback. It is worth noting he’s not missed a beat in his morning workouts on the last few weeks. He could easily get back to winning ways, especially if Juan Hernandez has him on the lead on his own.

After upsetting Desert Gate (1), Intrepido (4) went into The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile as the third favourite. He never figured. He’s been freshened up and returns to the venue of his career best effort. Plutarch (2) finished just behind him and Desert Gate (1) in that Grade 1. Baffert has put him on the turf twice since. Both his dirt races have been really good. He’s pace dependent but is not out of this if he takes his chances.

Robusta (6) and Cherokee Nation (3) ran one-two in a maiden here last month. The winner may be ridden aggressively early. Cherokee Nation (3) has better form to his name. Maybe Secured Freedom (7) has better chance of posting the upset.

He looked green when fourth in a deep maiden on his career debut in November. A month later, he looked more professional graduating by four lengths. His pedigree suggests he should be a sprinter. The way he drew off over six and a half furlongs last time gives hope he can stay a mile.