US Horse Racing Tips: Paul tracks two at Santa Anita

Paul Quigley, our US Horse Racing expert, is back on Thursday to pick out his best bets from across the ponf

Check out his latest US Horse Racing Tips below, with both exclusively coming from Santa Anita.

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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.

21:06 Santa Anita (Race 3) – The Eddie Logan Stakes – Stark Contrast (2) @ SP

This is a really good turf stake for newly turned three year olds. Stark Contrast (2) is the horse to beat. He followed up a maiden win by taking a Grade 3 from Third Beer (7) over course and distance in October. His trainer threw him to the wolves in The Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf after that. He belied his near 60/1 odds to run a close second to Aidan O’Brien’s Gstaad. If he repeats that run, he’s very likely to get back to winning ways. In a race where only Brigante (1) has any speed, he has the pace to sit close up and get the jump on his main rivals.    

Stark Contrast (2) will have to be on his game as a few of his rivals have almost as good form as him. The Coolmore owned Plutarch (5) is three times graded stakes placed. His trainer Bob Baffert dropped him in class to get a confidence boosting maiden win last time. Like a few in here, he may have to close in sat off modest early fractions.     

Four of these ran in a Grade 3 at Del Mar at the end of November. Unrivaled Time (4) narrowly beat Iriseach (3). The winner is improving and was game in victory If Stark Contrast (2) is overbet, he may be the play at the odds. Iriseach (3) has only little to find with him. He’s another he may be trying to run these down against race flow.

23:11 Santa Anita (Race 7) – The Robert J. Frankel (Grade 3) – Paradise Lake (5) @ SP

Key to the outcome may be a Grade 3 run over eleven furlongs at Del Mar at the end of November. Public Assembly (1) did the best of a trio of these, running a neck second. She is a consistent mare who has ran into some talented gals since winning last April. The cut back in distance won’t be an issue judging by her earlier form. She ticks a lot of boxes but likely second favourite Paradise Lake (5) may be the play at the odds. She had a wider trip than her old rival in that Grade 3. Interestingly, her last two victories have come over today’s course and distance.           

Sun Of Hill (6) finished only a neck behind the selection last time. She is winless since coming Stateside from Brazil but has ran some nice races in that time. The problem with her is lacking early speed. That means she is often parked well of slow early fractions. Trying to outfinish your rivals in races where the leaders are not stopping is hard to do. Watchtower (8) is another who can get behind early on. Her career best effort did come at Santa Anita.

The rest of this line up are going up in class. The much-improved Willa T (2) is on a four timer. This field is tougher than the starter one he beat last time. Hannah Buckle (4) comes out of better races than her. She missed by a neck in decent conditions event in November. Ima Joker (3) comes off a trio of fine efforts both locally and at Del Mar. Starry Night (7) makes the biggest jump in competition. She has looked much improved since a trainer change. The four year old may outrun her odds if on the lead on her own.