US Horse Racing Tips: Two to deliver at Sunland on Sunday

Our Stateside racing guru, Paul Quigley, rounds off the week hoping to deliver a double from Sunland Park for his latest US Horse Racing Tips.

You can check them out below.

22:44 Sunland Park (Race 8) – The Harry Henson Stakes – Wild Bout Hilary (3) @ SP

A Thousand Miles (1) ran well in a Grade 1 at Santa Anita in December. That was on turf. She did win a stake by eight lengths at Zia Park on her last start on dirt. She is a progressive four year old who looks a big player on the class drop.

However, slight preference is for Wild Bout Hilary (3). She won a Grade 3 at Oaklawn at this time last year. The five year old hasn’t raced since November but is in capable hands. She may need a canny ride with other forward running types in this line up.   

A few of these fillies and mares have to prove their stamina. Aye Candy (2) is one of them. She had Lookinforbargains (5) back in third and Practical Dream (4) further adrift when winning a stake over five and a half furlongs here last month. Her half brother Senor Buscador was a class stayer so there is no reason why she shouldn’t improve for more ground.    

No locally bred horse has won more prize money than Corrina Corrina (6). The vast majority of that $1.5 million has been earned in New Mexico bred company. She has ran well in similar races to this one in the past. She is the only proven closer over a mile in this line up. As a few of these may lock horns on the front end, she may be a late player. 

23:17 Sunland Park (Race 9) – The Sunland Park Derby – Bricklin (6) @ SP

With runners coming in from so many jurisdictions, it is hard to put the form in a clear pecking order. Express Kid (1) is one of two stakes winners in this line up. He caused an upset at Remington in December. There was no fluke in that.

He set quick fractions and drew off by six lengths. The rail drawn runner has worked really well since joining high percentage trainer Justin Evans. He looks the horse to beat may have company on the front end. His form looks stronger than that of Daneyko (7). He came from a long way back to outfinish Way Beyond (5) in a local stakes prep for this race. With likely speed to chase down, he may get another good set up.

Bricklin (6) showed vastly improved form when winning a conditions event at Oaklawn last month. The placed horses have ran well since suggesting it is decent standard. He made all last time but did break his maiden from off the pace. That may be important with plenty of speed types entered. The one worry with him is his career best came when racing with lasix for the first time. Horses can’t run on it in this stake. He may be worth siding with despite that.    

There are a trio of runners in here that go up in class after running in maidens. Sharons Beach (2) ran a competitive speed figure when beaten a neck at Santa Anita. The winner slammed a field next time. He is bred to stay today’s distance.

Like him, Buntus Foclora (8) is a maiden. He has chased home some good types at Aqueduct in his last two races. Going for a low profile trainer, he may go off a bigger price than he should. Forty Twenty (4) beat nothing at Turf Paradise but he did it by a dozen lengths. He’s a half brother to a stakes performer and his trainer rarely runs his horses over their heads.    

Pavlovian (3) ran third in a stake for California breds at Santa Anita last month. He’s progressing with racing and not out of this.