US Horse Racing Tips: Two for Sunday’s action in the States

Our Stateside guru Paul Quigley is armed with four selections for Sunday's racing - one from Keeneland and one from Oaklawn Park.

Check out his US Horse Racing tips below.

Keeneland Race 6 (20:40) – Knoty Knicks (3) @ SP

The market and possibly the result will be different if some of the reserves get in here. Particularly Sharons Pharoah (13). He broke his maiden with a nice effort at Santa Anita last month. In his favour is having some tactical speed in what looks a paceless looking race.

Quite a few of these drop in class after running in stakes events. The lightly raced McCready (1) ran a career best when third in one at The Fair Grounds in late February. He draws well. Less so Noble Dynasty (10). He is a closer so his rider may be able to save some ground and make a late run. On his three year old debut, he was far from disgraced in a Grade 3 here.

Knoty Knicks (3) may be the play here. He has ran well in back to back stakes in Florida. Going for a low percentage trainer is a worry. It should help his price. He is a one pacer who should appreciate the longer distance he gets to race over today. Patrol Squad Six (7) and Gairloch (6) finished just behind him in January. Patrol Squad Six (7) has ran well again since. Gairloch (6) didn’t improve off his debut win. He may now do now racing in blinkers for the first time.

Kravitz (5) and Navigation (9) are both last time out maiden winners. The first named ran a decent speed figure when graduating at Gulfstream. Navigation (9) didn’t beat much at Tampa but it was his career debut. As he looked very green, there is likely a ton of improvement in him second time at the races.

East Village (4) disappointed on dirt and Tapeta either side of a lay off. He had shown promise on turf in the second half of last year. Getting back on the grass and racing with lasix first time may mean he comes back to life. Beautiful War (12) has ran well in both his career starts. He has little to find with Patrol Squad Six (7).

Oaklawn Park Race 8 (22:34) – Red State (2) @ SP

Red State (2) was beaten nine lengths last time. Normally that’s not a ‘be on next time’ sort of run. That was a really strong allowance optional claimer at The Fair Grounds where the longstanding track record was broken. The trio that finished ahead of him are all quality horses. In addition, it was his first start in over seven months. He has worked really well since. His trainer Mike Maker returns him to a track he is two for two at. He has some tactical speed in a race it may pay to be forwardly placed.

Devil's Tower (3) is a bit of a horse for course at Oaklawn. He has won half of his nineteen races here. He’s eight now but retains enough ability to contend in a race of this nature. Last month, he ran second in an allowance event over course and distance. Henro (6) did finish ahead of him when he was second in a handicap here in February. He is a danger at his best but the late runner may not get much pace to chase down.

Trainer Norm Casse lost Lunar Module (5) via a claim in February. He took him back a month later and was prepared to pay $12,500 more. That move does suggest he can win  races with him. He can at least round out the forecast if he repeats that run for his handler of February.

Track Phantom (4) had a diet of stakes and deep allowance events over a mile or more in the winter. He has been freshened up and cut back to sprinting for his return. The last time he raced over one turn, he ran third to a pair of stakes or stakes calibre runners. He is interesting at a likely price.

Sweet as Sin (7) has ran well in his last two starts but looks in a bit too deep. Not so Osbourne (1) on his form in the first half of last year. So far he’s not produced his best in two starts after a long absence. Maybe he needed both those runs.

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