US Horse Racing Tips: Three to watch on Saturday

Paul Quigley, our US Horse Racing expert, kicks off the weekend to provide his best bets from across the pond, with his attention focused on Fair Grounds.

Check out his latest US Horse Racing Tips below.

23:00 Fair Grounds (Race 11) - Lagynos @ SP

Quite a few chances here. Lagynos (4) has the strongest claims. He won a stake with a massive purse at Kentucky Downs in August. Since then, he has been placed in a back to back Grade 3’s. In the latest, he was not catching a talented frontrunner who scored again at Gulfstream next time. There is nothing of that ilk in this line up. He barely gets this distance so expect Jose Ortiz to ride him to use his turn of foot.

Four of these ran in a stake over course and distance last month. Idratherbeblessed (3) upset Kupuna (1), Sand Pipes (2) and Point Proven (8). The winner is no stranger to shocks. He won a Grade 2 at 80/1 on a slow pace here in March. Theismann (7) has a similar forward running style. He’s been making hay in conditions company in Kentucky. This is a step up in class but may get a nice trip on or close to the speed.

Cameo Performance (5) is a frustrating, often near miss type. He rallied to be third behind Idratherbeblessed (3) in that Grade 2 last March. It’s been more of the same in stakes events since. He has to be reckoned with along with the comebacking Reagan's Wit (9). He’s a lightly raced four-year-old with a clear-cut stakes victory to his name. His eight-length maiden win over course and distance came after lay off. With that in mind, an absence since the summer may not be an issue.

23:30 Fair Grounds (Race 12) - Moonlight @ SP

This looks a very decent renewal. Backers have a choice between established stakes form and runners with form in maidens and conditions events. Chip Honcho (11), Crown the Buckeye (3) and Quality Mischief (1) ran first, third and fourth in a local stake last month. Only a length separated that trio. If you like one of them, it’s hard not to like the other two.

Quality Mischief (1) is trained by Brad Cox. He has two other runners entered. Thunder Buck (6) improved second time out to beat Ocelli (9) in a maiden over course and distance. The winning time compares favourably with the stake Chip Honcho (11) won on the same card. He has claims in a wide open event along with his stablemate White Tiger (8). He ran into one on debut at Churchill in September. A month or so later, he went one better at the same track.

Cherie Devaux and Brendan Walsh are double-handed here. Devaux’s Mesquite (7) improved for the step up in distance to break his maiden at Churchill in November. The form of that race was given a boost when the third Walsh’s Carson Street (2) came back to score. Jose Ortiz rode him and stablemate Golden Tempo (5) last time and seems to prefer the latter. He made an eye-catching debut here with a last to first victory over six furlongs. This is a different test and the competition is much tougher. He’s bred to come into his own over trip like today’s and may stay unbeaten.

Brendan Walsh’s other runner Stop the Car (10) is two from two in his career. His second victory was the better one when stepped up to a mile. Like all of these, he can’t be discounted. Even longshot Exosome (4) impressed when breaking his maiden at Keeneland.

00:00 Fair Grounds (Race 13) - Golden Tempo @ SP

This looks a very decent renewal. Backers have a choice between established stakes form and runners with form in maidens and conditions events. Chip Honcho (11), Crown the Buckeye (3) and Quality Mischief (1) ran first, third and fourth in a local stake last month. Only a length separated that trio. If you like one of them, it’s hard not to like the other two.

Quality Mischief (1) is trained by Brad Cox. He has two other runners entered. Thunder Buck (6) improved second time out to beat Ocelli (9) in a maiden over course and distance. The winning time compares favourably with the stake Chip Honcho (11) won on the same card. He has claims in a wide open event along with his stablemate White Tiger (8). He ran into one on debut at Churchill in September. A month or so later, he went one better at the same track.

Cherie Devaux and Brendan Walsh are double-handed here. Devaux’s Mesquite (7) improved for the step up in distance to break his maiden at Churchill in November. The form of that race was given a boost when the third Walsh’s Carson Street (2) came back to score.

Jose Ortiz rode him and stablemate Golden Tempo (5) last time and seems to prefer the latter. He made an eye-catching debut here with a last to first victory over six furlongs. This is a different test and the competition is much tougher. He’s bred to come into his own over trip like today’s and may stay unbeaten.

Brendan Walsh’s other runner Stop the Car (10) is two from two in his career. His second victory was the better one when stepped up to a mile. Like all of these, he can’t be discounted. Even longshot Exosome (4) impressed when breaking his maiden at Keeneland.