US Horse Racing Tips: Paul marks our Saturday card

Paul Quigley, our US Horse Racing expert, kicks off the weekend with his best bets from across the pond, and he focuses on the action at Gulfstream Park and Aqueduct.

Check out his latest US Horse Racing Tips below.

21:34 Gulfstream Park - She Be Smooth @ SP

The most accomplished runner in this line up is On Time Girl (9). She made it back to back stakes victories when winning here on her three year old debut. Brad Cox’s filly did it well by three lengths from Imperatrice (5). She runs as if the extra furlong of this race will suit.

She’s the standard setter and may not be too short as many of her rivals will take a little money. One of them is her stablemate Paradise (3). She improved second time at the races to break her maiden well over course and distance. She’s one of a host of once or twice-raced fillies in here that may have a ton of improvement in them.

As well as Imperatrice (5), Todd Pletcher has She Be Smooth (8) entered. She won her only start to date. The form of that race was given a boost when the runner up scored by eight lengths next time. This is a step up in class and may be the result of pressure from her owners. She may be up to this level, even so early in her career.

Omaha Bay (4) won her only start to date. The form of that maiden was given a boost when the third Swing Vote (7) came back to score. The old rivals have to enter calculations. So too does Haute Diva (6) who won a local stake under David Egan last month.

My Miss Mo (1) didn’t run to her market support when behind Blazing Brat (2) in a stake at Tampa last time.

22:18 Aqueduct - Hammond @ SP

There is likely to be a short priced favourite in Chad Brown’s Iron Honor (6). He was a winner of a maiden in a fast time here on debut. The form of that race has been given a boost as the second and well held third Right to Party (5) came back to score. Even off that run alone, he’s talented enough to win this race. Being only once-raced, there is likely plenty of improvement to come from him. That is especially true stepping up to a mile.

There are a few alternatives if Iron Honor (6) is backed into odds on. Balboa (1) won a stake at Laurel before running in another two in New York. His third to a pair of Kentucky Derby contenders in December was a fine run. He was a tad disappointing when second next time. Like him, Hammond (2) has form in stakes. He won one at Tampa before being no match to a talented barn mate last month. Considering he blew the break, it was a decent effort. He may be the play as the likely third favourite.

Creole Chrome (8) and Dirty Rich (9) ship in from out of state. The pair step up from six furlongs. Creole Chrome (8) has ran well in all three starts against Louisiana breds at The Fair Grounds. Dirty Rich (9) followed up a stakes victory with a speed and fade job at Oaklawn. He is dangerous if he makes the lead on his own.

Crown the Buckeye (3) is a talented Ohio bred. He has a chance off a close up third in an open stake at The Faur Grounds in December. Like a few of these, his best run has come when on the lead. He did sit off the speed when toying with state breds at Mahoning Valley in October. With the right ride, he can get in frame at least.

Last time out maiden winner Exhibition Only (7) benefitted from an easy lead.

23:11 Gulfstream Park - Commandment @ SP

This looks a really good renewal and could have serious Kentucky Derby implications. The unbeaten Napoleon Solo (7) has achieved the most. He followed up a maiden win on debut by taking The Grade 1 Champagne at Aqueduct. His rider set fast fractions but was still able to draw off by six lengths from Talkin (3). That was in October. He missed The Breeders’ Cup and this is his first start back.

Napoleon Solo (7) obviously has the class to win this. Maybe some of his race fit rivals can upstage him. Commandment (4) may challenge him at the head of the market. He followed up a maiden win with a wide margin score in a stake here last month. In truth, he beat little of note but the manner of victory suggests he is a horse to follow. He runs as if more ground will suit and should trip-out well sat just off likely contested early fractions.

Trainer Saffie Joseph is double-handed here. Solitude Dude (10) is unbeaten in three career starts, the last two stakes events. Like Commandment (4), he’s been too good for overmatched rivals. Unlike him, he’s not guaranteed to be suited to this step up in distance. That is especially true as there is other speed in here. His stablemate Bravaro (5) was seconds best to a likely top-notcher in a Grade 3 last time. He’s definitely a place chance at least.

Jackson Hole (1) won on debut despite looking green. He beat winners at first asking in an allowance conditions event at The Fair Grounds after that. Like virtually all of these three year olds, there may be plenty of improvement in him. That is definitely the case with Chief Wallabee (6). He won in a fast time in his only start to date. The second ran well in a stake next time. It is rare for his trainer Bill Mott to put a horse in a graded stake after just one run.

Rockies Balboa (2) gets a class test after a dominant victory over Florida breds. He is likely to add to the early speed mix. Global Aviator (9) didn’t run to his maiden winning form when behind Bravaro (5) last time.