US Horse Racing Tips: Two from Churchill Downs for Sunday’s selections

Our Stateside expert, Paul Quigley, is back to deliver his Sunday US Racing Tips. This time we're heading to Churchill Downs for Sunday's selections.

You can find them below.

20:25 Churchill Downs (Race 8) - Americathegreat @ SP

Life of Joy (4) will likely be a clear-cut favourite. Not just because she goes for red-hot trainer Brad Cox and Irad Ortiz taking the ride. It is also after an eye-catching career debut. She won by almost fifteen lengths at the start of the month. It is hard to know what she beat at Horseshoe Indianapolis but the final time was very good. She is proven over a mile and the extra-half a furlong here should be in her favour.

Some of the fillies in here have stakes form. Kingsolver (1) ran second in one at Ellis Park before winning a conditions event at Keeneland. Seven furlongs is as far as she’s gone so far. She may have the speed to make the lead on her own. The Grumpy Rabbit (5) is unlikely to be positioned not too far off the pace. She and stablemate Go to Girl (7) ran third and fourth in The Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland early this month. This is a more winnable race.

Americathegreat (3) and Josie Joe (6) ran one-two in a maiden here last month. In theory, the last named has a good chance of reversing the less than a length she was beaten. She was making her career debut whereas the winner had three runs under her belt. Americathegreat (3) is improving and may do again with a stiffer test of stamina. She may be the play in here at the likely odds.

Tearin'up My Heart (2) may be a nice claim for $30,000. She was taken off a nine-length maiden claiming win here last month. The speed figure she ran compares pretty well with the best in here.

21:25 Churchill Downs (Race 10) - Vost @ SP

It will be interesting to see how they bet this race.

Universe (3) comes out of best contest. He won on his career debut before running third in The Grade 1 Champagne at Aqueduct. He was beaten seven lengths but the first two home look quality juveniles. He’s strictly the horse to beat. He and the rest will have to catch the unbeaten Ganaas (2). He faced a simple task in Indiana on his career debut. Second time out, he showed improved form to slam a field of winners here. The speedster has to last over two-and-a-half furlongs. If his rider has him relaxed on the lead, he may be hard to reel in.

Based on speed figure, Vost (1) has something to find with the best of these. He did improve off a maiden win on debut to be a well held third in a Grade 3 here last month. His pedigree suggests he will improve for more of a test of stamina. His trainer rarely calls his geese, swans. The fact he’s back in a graded stake is a hint of better to come. He has worked really well since his last race.

The rest of this field are made up by last time out maiden winners. The most likely to contend on paper is Incredibolt (7). He improved a ton from his debut to graduate by two lengths here last month. The step up to a mile really suited him.

He’s already ran as fast as almost all of these and should have more improvement to come. Fellow last time out maiden breakers Very Connected (4), Bricklin (5) and I Did I Did (6) have more to do. The last named has been working well for a trainer in fine form.

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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...