US Horse Racing Tips: Three to follow on Sunday

Paul Quigley, our US Horse Racing expert, is rounding off the week with three picks from across the pond.

Check out his latest US Horse Racing Tips below, which come from Sunland Park and 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.

22:04 Sunland Park (Race 7) – Hallie's Gal (7) @ SP

The vast majority of this field ran in a maiden over six-and-a-half furlongs at Zia Park on December 16. Lady D D (8) did the best of them, running second. She set the pace and was only overhauled late on. The cutback in distance won’t be an issue. She showed on her debut that she doesn’t need to lead to run her race. Her trainer has made a fine start to this Sunland meet. She looks the gal to beat.        

A couple of fillies caught the eye behind Lady D D (8) last time. Spoonin Shuga (5) pressed her pace from the inside, only fading in the latter stages. She may do better now, getting off the rail. Hallie's Gal (7) didn’t really have a troubled trip, but she seemed to be ridden with an eye to the future. It was her first start since showing nothing on her debut in March. She seemed to be getting the hang of things late on. This shorter trip may not be in her favour. Blinkers first time may see her in striking distance early on.     

Dreamily (3) was one-paced in that December 16 maiden. She’s only had two career starts and is in good hands. The four-year-old had worked well since coming to Sunland. That is also the case with Dragonessa (6). She did not run to her best in the same maiden. That was when third in a decent maiden in November. 

Sir Liams Love (9) ran second in a maiden claimer at Zia Park last month. This is a step up in class. The speed figure she ran is not far off the nest of these in here. She is a place chance.

23:00 Sunland Park (Race 9) – Roll Penny Roll (6) @ SP

Roll Penny Roll (6) comes off two fine efforts at Zia Park. In the first in November, he ran a half-length second to a next-time-out winner. Last month, he went one better, beating overmatched rivals by three-plus lengths. Those races were over five-and-a-half and six furlongs. He is winless in a trio of tries over today’s distance. He ran one of his best races over it at Albuquerque last month. The three-time winner at Sunland is a stalker/closer who should get speed to chase down. His normally high percentage trainer is having her first runners at this meet today. It will be a surprise if he doesn’t run his race.          

Daux (7) still retains plenty of ability despite his advancing years. He did finish a couple of lengths behind Roll Penny Roll (6) in November. The 10-year-old got back to winning ways at Zia last month. That was over a mile, but he has recent form sprinting. A trio that finished behind him is of interest, cutting back in distance. Arch City (10) and Clue (9) contested the pace. With the right trip, either could be difficult to reel in. Indy's Song (2) shortens up to the distance he ran a fine second at in November.    

Z Marks the Spot (3) was a winner in November. He was in deep in an open claimer just over a fortnight later. This is a drop in class to a level he can contend with. He’s run some of his best races at Sunland. He is dangerous, especially if he makes the lead on his own. Storm Bayou (4) has the back form to win. A negative trainer change is the worry with him.

23:30 Santa Anita (Race 8) – The Las Cienegas (Grade 3) – Spicybug (4) @ SP

Queen Maxima (1) has developed into a top female turf sprinter in California. She’s a multiple graded stakes winner. At Del Mar in October, she had Nay V Belle (8) just over a length back in third when taking a Grade 3. That run came after a layoff off so lack of a race since then may not be an issue. Her last two victories have come over shorter. She did win a Grade 3 by four lengths the last time she raced over course and distance in April. The rail draw can be tricky on this downhill turf course. She probably has the speed to get a good early position. The gal to beat at a likely short price.

Nay V Belle (8) ran well against Queen Maxima (1) in October. She is an unknown over as far as six-and-a-half furlongs – at least on turf. Egyptian Mau (2) is proven over the trip. She just failed to reel in Nay V Belle (8) over five furlongs in August. The six-year-old went one better over course and distance in October. Getting behind in a race without a lot of speed is the worry for this closer.

Maybe the best alternative to Queen Maxima (1) may be Spicybug (4). She was overmatched in a Grade 1 over a mile last time. Prior to that, she won a conditions event over course and distance. A couple of fair types dead-heated for second behind her, including the late-running Miss Lizzy (6). If her rider reads the script, he could have her forwardly placed in a race, and it may pay to be near the front.   

Rosie Jeeks (7) is a newcomer to California. She won back-to-back races at Monmouth in the summer, including a stakes event. The lightly raced five-year-old was sold out of Chad Brown’s stable for $300k at a horses in training sale. She should handle the extra ground and is in good hands.   

Princesa Moche (3) gets a class test after back-to-back upset victories. She will be a big price again, along with Antifona (9). The five-year-old was entitled to need her comeback behind Spicybug (4) after well over a year away.