US Horse Racing Tips: Two Thursday picks to consider

Our Stateside expert, Paul Quigley, is back with his Thursday US Horse Racing Tips, looking to land winners at Thistledown and Churchill Downs.

You will find his two selections below.

19:50 Thistledown (Race 5) - Salute the Kid (3) @ SP

Coloryoureggs (5) will take money on the class drop. She set the pace before being reeled in late in an allowance event last month. Prior to that, he missed by a head at today’s level. The lone three year old in this line up is likely to make the lead on her own. Under that scenario, she may be tough to run down. Express Fashion (7) finished three lengths behind her last month. She seemed to have no excuses.    

A couple of trainers are double handed. These double entries may have been tactic top get enough runners ‘to make the race go’. Ima Mom (2) looks the far more likely of The Ivan Vazquez trained pair. She has been absent since a fine effort in a similar race to this one in May. She’s been working forwardly suggesting she will fire on her return.

Trainer Richard Rettele has two live chances here. His Mandolin Breeze (1) was a clear-cut winner over a mile at the start of the month. She was placed in her last two starts over today’s distance. Her stablemate Salute the Kid (3) may be the answer here. She ran with credit in a deep looking starter event for Ohio breds just under a fortnight ago. This is a more winnable spot. She is likely to get a nice trip just off the pacey Coloryoureggs (5).          

Queenofthebuckeye (6) was claimed off a modest effort eight days ago. A quick turnaround by her new trainer seems a positive. She has the back form to go close.    

00:57  Churchill Downs (Race 7) - Fort Nelson (7) @ SP

Two runners are likely to separate themselves at the head of the market. Both of them come off big efforts at Saratoga. The well drawn Hop Sing (1) could be a clear-cut favourite. He has ran well in all his starts this year, culminating in a head loss at today’s level in New York. The winner of that race came back to win a stake at Philadelphia last Saturday. He doesn’t need to lead to his race. Drawing the rail and getting an aggressive jockey, he is an obvious wire to wire player.

Navajo Warrior (9) has a tricker post but does get Irad Ortiz to do the steering. He rattled up a hat-trick at Santa Anita in the spring. The four year old’s winning run continued at Saratoga on his return last month. He was a near five length winner of a starter event. This is a step up in class but based on his form, he could be up to the task.

It may be decent prices bar two runners here. With that in mind, it may be worth siding with a runner at least to round out the forecast. The pair that appeal most are Whiskey Shot (4) and Fort Nelson (7). The first named has been absent since winning a productive maiden here last November. His trainer is one of the best at bringing lay off horses back fit. Fort Nelson (7) has shown plenty of ability sprinting. His dam was a Grade 1 winner over nine furlongs so he may improve a lot for more ground.     

Maximum Promise (3) has been running on the turf. In his two runs on dirt, he thrashed a field of maidens and ran with credit in a Grade 3. De' Medici (8) makes the same surface switch. He has a chance off the pick of his form in Southern California.

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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...