US Horse Racing Tips: Paul returns to Keeneland

Our Stateside expert, Paul Quigley, is back to deliver his Friday US Racing Tips. It was Keeneland that caught his attention on Thursday and he returns to this track for his latest selections.

You will find them below.

20:40 Keeneland (Race 6) - A Fine Chardonnay (6) @ SP

Only a small field here but all of the six fillies have shown a good level of ability so far. There is a chance Kingsolver (1) may not run. She is also entered for a stake over a mile at Churchill on Sunday. The rail drawn runner has playable form sprinting. She ran second in a stake at Ellis Park before winning an allowance conditions here earlier in the meet. If she defects, the unbeaten On Time Girl (2) could be a short priced favourite. She was a clear-cut maiden winner at Ellis Park on debut. Second time out, she was even more impressive when beating a field of winners at Churchill. She ticks all the boxes with the possible exception of her price.   

Woodstock (5) is the only stakes winner in this line up. She probably didn’t beat much at Remington Park. That said, she did it by ten lengths in a fast time. She has improved in all her three career starts and looks a big danger to On Time Girl (2). If she takes a step forward here, so could A Fine Chardonnay (6). She won nicely on her career debut at Churchill. The third filly came back to break her maiden next time. As her trainer Ian Wilkes almost never wins first time out, there may be a lot better to come from her.

The selection is not the only filly in this line up to win their only start to date. Counting Stars (4) scored at first asking in a good time at Churchill last month. She had to overcome being bumped at the start. She’s another possibility. Irad Ortiz appears to have deserted to maintain his association with On Time Girl (2). His brother Jose is hardly a shabby replacement.   

Storm Cloud Rising (3) broke her maiden by five lengths second time out here. That was one of the early two year old races which are often not deep. She’s not raced since but could have matured physically. Her jockey may have designs on the early lead.

22:18 Keeneland (Race 9) – Tabiti (9) @ SP

This is a high quality event with some established and promising fillies locking horns. May Day Ready (12) beat Play With Fire (2) by half a length in a Grade 2 at Saratoga in August. The runner up looked best that day. Not only did the winner get it very easy on the front but Play With Fire (2) was squeezed and had to be taken up before the far turn. With a clean trip, she may go one better her. 

Play With Fire (2) was arguably second best to Classic Q (6) when that filly wired a stakes field at Saratoga in July. Classic Q (6) has held her form well since. The cut back to six and a half furlongs may not have suited her when fourth in a Grade 2 at Kentucky Downs last month. Tabiti (9) finished just in front of her. She had shown improved from for Ralph Beckett in the summer. Her Goodwood Group 3 victory came over seven furlongs but she seemed to stay a mile at Royal Ascot. She is unlikely to regress now in the care of Kentucky based Brad Cox.   

Vixen (4) was placed in back to back Grade 2’s earlier in the year with subsequent Grade 1 winners just in front and behind her. She’s had some time away after a below par run in June. If returning at her best, she is a player. Ramsey Pond (3) needs to improve. Her comeback last month suggests she may do so. Somethinabouther (7) is progressive and her trainer is in fine form at this meet.

Reining Flowers (8) hasn’t too much to find with some of these from Saratoga. She won her only start on this turf track.

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Paul Quigley is a long-time US racing fan and tipster. He provides US Horse Racing Tips for Betfred Insights as well as working for Betfred TV...