US Horse Racing Tips: Two to watch on Friday

Paul Quigley, our US Horse Racing expert, is back on Friday to pick out his best bets from across the pond - coming from Tampa Bay Downs and Aqueduct.

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.

18:58 Tampa Bay Downs (Race 4) - Crossati @ SP

It will be interesting to see how they bet this race. There is a chance Classic Ballad (6) will be all the rage. She came back to form in style on her local return in late November. The five-year-old slammed a field of two-time career winners by nine lengths. That was a pretty weak field but the margin of victory and the speed figure she ran suggested it was a top performance. Her trainer Jose D’Angelo has a fine record with the few runners he’s had at this meet.

Classic Ballad (6) may be overbet and a runner like Crossati (1) offers a bit of value. She has found her form with back to back good efforts at this meet. The rail drawn runner had Mia's Angel (3) back in third when winning a claimer in November. A month later, she ran third in a starter event. The pair that beat her were class droppers with form in much better races than this one. She has an adaptable running style and should be able to save ground from her draw.

Tortuga Island (2) finished only half a length behind the selection last time. It was her first start in three months so may strip a bit fitter. She would be suited with some speed to chase down. In contrast, Mia's Angel (3) may need the lead on her own to wire this field. She may have company on the front end from last time out winner Sing Scat (7).

Utopia Rose (4) and Calisue (5) finished behind Crossati (1) last time. The first named may be set for a peak effort on her third start back after a lay off. Calisue (5) hasn’t ran to her Prairie Meadows best in two starts at this meet.

20:38 Acqueduct (Race 7) - Toxic Gray @ SP

The speedy One Nine Hundred (5) made a fine comeback at today’s level at Churchill in late November. He showed his usual fine speed but was reeled in late on by a couple of fine yardsticks. The newly turned four-year-old has worked well since returning to The Big Apple. He will be fancied to win this before tackling stakes company again. Vettriano (2) may challenge him at the lead of the market.

He won at the level below this one here in September. Since then, he’s been second best in similar races to this one. The pair that beat him are a top class New York bred and a very capable horse.

In terms of talent and recent form, One Nine Hundred (5) and Vettriano (2) are without question the pair to beat. That said, the pair have the same on the pace running style. If they soften each other up, maybe something could win this at a price.

Big Hat Willie (1) gets a class test from his new trainer. He was claimed off a win for $40,000 last month. The rail drawn runner was well beaten at this level prior to that but didn’t handle the wet track.

Maybe Toxic Gray (3) is the way to go. He finished well behind Vettriano (2) last time but had been away eight months. He has back races that make him competitive here including in similar races to this one. The six-year-old has worked well twice since his comeback. The chances are he leaves his last run behind.

High Oak (7) is a seven-year-old who has only raced fifteen times. He was Grade 1 placed in 2023 but has only had one start in the last 12 months. It may be encouraging his capable trainer wants to continue his career. Mr Skylight (6) is another with graded stakes form back in the day. He runs for a new trainer and Flavien Prat is booked for the ride. I'm A Gambler (4) has the class to contend. The turf/synthetic runner has to prove himself on dirt.