US Horse Racing Tips: Paul marks your Friday card

Paul Quigley, our US Horse Racing expert, kicks off the weekend with his Friday selections from Oaklawn Park and Tampa Bay Downs.

Check out his latest US Horse Racing Tips below.

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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.

21:10 Tampa Bay Downs (Race 8) - Test Pilot @ SP

Many chances here. Smart Striker (1) and American Unity (10) will take money dropping in class, especially the first named. Both runners make the switch from the turf. Smart Striker (1) ran well in the face of a stiff task on a rare start on the dirt in August. He is the one to fear. American Unity (10) goes for a less successful trainer but he has ran well in both starts since being claimed by him in October.

Johnnyfrenchfri (2) and Crooked Dreams (8) both make their first starts for new trainers. The first named now runs for a very sharp operator so could leave his recent form behind. Crooked Dreams (8) was impressive when winning over course and distance nine days ago. If he can be brought back in the same form, he can go close.

Curlin Gunner (5) cuts back from a mile. The move may suit but maybe a runner getting more ground is the one to side with. Test Pilot (6) wired a field over six furlongs here last month. He has won over further including a mile and today’s distance. The six-year-old is vulnerable to the more classier runners. If reserve Keigs (13) doesn’t get in, he could be loose on the lead.

Greyzer (9) gets class relief for his return. His jockey may have had other options in this race. Megan's Honor (4) and Circle Back Jack (7) have a chance off their form in Illinois and Iowa respectively. The sharp Dundie (14) needs a couple of defections to get in but makes the shortlist if he does.

21:52 Oaklawn Park (Race 8) - Pretty Layla @ SP

The gal to beat here is Ervadean (3). She has ran a close second in similar races to this one in Kentucky since returning in October. In both cases, she lost to quality, stakes calibre fillies. She is on a long, losing run and has become a bit of bridesmaid.

This may be her best chance for a while but it is a worry at a shortish price. All of her rivals have issues too. The unbeaten Amalfi Drive (1) has not raced since August 2024. She did win both her starts by open lengths. There may have a lot better to come from this Godolphin owned filly.

Miss Martini (6) broke her maiden second time out. She’s had a diet of stakes races since. Her best two races came over course and distance in February and March. They were a stakes victory and a runner up. She’s not raced since June but has been back in full work for some time now. Popperina (10) is another who has ran some of her best races at Oaklawn. The booking of Joel Rosario for her return is a positive one.

Pretty Layla (4) may go well cutting back from a mile. She should be a price after two modest efforts on the turf. Her last win came over a trip but she has form over six furlongs. She is a stalker/closer who is very likely to get speed to chase down. The four-year-old may be worth a small interest.

Demidanu (8) ran some nice races at Prairie Meadows in the summer and autumn. Her last victory was a standout one here. Practicallyelusive (7) is a quality Ohio bred. She could make the frame with the right trip. Blue Squall (2) may be all the better for her comeback. She has been working sharply since then.

22:20 Oaklawn Park (Race 9) - Hymn @ SP

This stake looks pretty open with all of the runners having a chance on their best form.

Kalahari Dreams (3) is probably the horse to beat. He was a winner of an allowance event at Saratoga in a fast time. Since then, he has been second best. He had U Devil You (4) behind him when they filled the places in a deep minor event at Churchill Downs last month. The pair were beaten by a quality Iowa bred last time. There is another one in here in Amorosa (6). He has been running over a mile or more. There is speed in here to chase down so the cut back to sprinting may not be an issue.

Dreaminblue (8) may be all the better for his comeback third at Churchill. The late runner has worked well locally twice since that race. Hymn (7) ran below form when behind him last time. He regressed second time back after a fine second in a conditions event in Kentucky. He’s likely to be a price off his last run. When he ran well two starts back, Faust (9) finished five lengths behind him. He left that form behind when third in a swiftly run race at Churchill next time.

Divine Justice (2) broke his maiden second time out at Keeneland. There may be better to come from him. His old connections were happy to let him go for $200,000 at the November sales which may be a slight negative. Sharp Swinger (5) is improving, winning three of his last four races. He gets a class test after tackling claiming company but is two from two at Oaklawn.