A considered drop in grade class-wise for Tuesday’s US action after Labor Day’s plethora of treats from the hottest of venues, but there are still winners to be found!

Coverage of the UK evening card at Bangor-on-Dee will limit the US action early on, but with the domestic racing done and dusted by 7.30pm, the four selections from Fingers Lakes and Horseshoe Indianapolis - bar the last, which is after ‘closing time’ - should make Stateside Live.

Any that fail to can, of course, still be viewed on the ATR Player. Good luck, wherever your selections land you!

The Stateside Preview - Fingers Lakes and Horseshoe Indianapolis for Tuesday 8th September 2026

Horseshoe Indianapolis 3 (8.12pm)

Allowance – 3-year-olds and upwards – 6 furlongs – Dirt

The unexposed Pistole (5) will likely be deemed favourite after fading late to finish a three-length second in a similar, if slightly less valuable, contest over course and distance last month. Given that was his first start since scoring in a Maiden Special Weight, also at this track (5f) on debut in May 2025, Cipriano Contreras’s Mitole gelding, who set fast fractions that day, can be entitled to step forward for that effort.

Tazzy (6), who has a couple of lengths to find with his rival on that run, has been much improved of late with a MSW win (track and trip) backed up by a $25k NW2L Claiming course-and-distance success before engaging with tougher entry level Allowance rivals. His stalking style makes him one perhaps best used ‘underneath’ in exotic plays.

I’m more taken, however, by DELTA TAU CHI (7), who has taken a shine to this venue with a brace of claiming wins, before notching up a third win in four in an Optional Claimer at Belterra last time. Randy Klopp’s charge returns from a short layoff but goes well fresh and his sharp bullet work suggests this early paced type will be spot on for this return.

Face The Future (3) found exiting State-Bred Allowance company tougher last time but has the gate speed to light up the early fractions, although I believe Mister Banderas (2) will prove a bigger threat if reproducing an excellent effort under Adam Beschizza - back on board again - in a $32k Ellis Claimer last time.

Selection: DELTA TAU CHI (7)

Fingers Lakes 7 (8.49pm)

Allowance – 3-year-olds and upwards – 1 mile – Dirt

I’ll be disappointed if this doesn’t go to either VALENTINIAN (5) or Inonit (6), with preference for the first-named - a $1.5m son of Into Mischief who failed to live up to that price tag for former handler Todd Pletcher.

The recent switch to Finger Lakes and Paul Barrow has certainly seen him in a better light, however, with a first-time near miss in the level below this backed up an emphatic runaway eight-length success in the same grade next time.

While he was probably flattered by such a wide winning margin, in a race in which went off long odds-on, both races have thrown up plenty of subsequent success, with three of the six to have returned from the first race scoring next time.

His recent moderate work could be considered a concern, but he did similar before his last win, so it’s easy to overlook and his consistent late pace figures make him the one to beat.

Inonit (6) plied his trade in far weaker races than his rival at Aqueduct but has notched up two wins in as many starts at this track for Lisa Lugovich, and he can provide the strongest opposition, even if his NW2L Allowance score last time wasn’t totally convincing.

Mandalorian (3) returned to the track after being on the missing list for close on 22 months to run away with a moderate $5k NW2L Claimer over course and distance before recording a similar effort when stepped back up in class next time. Both runs suggest he has retained much of his previous form, and he should be monitored in the market.

Gray Haired Gus (1) and Take The Gold (2) are closely matched on a meeting at this level (1m 70 yds) last month but may have to settle for minor pickings at best, though Mission Critical (7) - for the red-hot Jeremiah Englehart barn - would be of interest if able to replicate his 6f NW2L Allowance victory here last time back over the longer trip.

Selection: VALENTINIAN (5)

Finger Lakes 8 (9.18pm)

Maiden Claimer – Fillies and mares – 3-year-olds and upwards – 6 furlongs – Dirt

While a low-grade claimer such as this might be an odd choice for analysis, it should hopefully be competitive enough to put forward MAIZEY BLUE (3) on his first start since leaving Rudy Rodriguez.

Now with Luis Gutierrez (19% strike rate first time), the one-time Ken Mc Peek inmate - while failing to reach the lofty heights at one time expected - showed much more on his local debut at this level (5½f) when making late progress to claim second place, a country mile clear of her opposition. With the blinkers reached for and in-form rider Reylu Gutierrez called up by his father (30% strike rate together at this meet), she can finally shrug off her maiden tag at the ninth time of asking.

Peruvian Princess (2), a close second choice in the market to the selection in her latest start, failed to live up to expectations, eventually finishing the best part of nine lengths back - a second successive disappointing effort from Paul Barrow’s filly. With long-standing maiden My Gorgeous (8) just ahead of her in that latest clash, and the similarly-exposed Crystal (5) also taking her measure on her previous start, she is one to be wary of.

Crystal (5), a stablemate of the selection, had valid excuses in that key race last time, and while only ever a candidate for use underneath with a zero-from-32 record, she has done enough lately to potentially sneak into a place.

The thrice-raced North Starlight (1) is also one to watch in the market on a first drop to this level (16% angle for Rachel Sells).

Selection: MAIZEY BLUE (3)

Horseshoe Indianapolis 7 (10.16pm)

Allowance – 3-year-olds and upwards – 1 mile – Turf

Vienna Charm (10), who went off too fast when not unfancied upped in class to a minor stake (Snack Handicap) over this one-mile trip last time, will probably head the market after bagging two wins in four over the Horseshoe oval.

Brian Waltz’s charge may need to use a touch of early again from his outside berth, and having just been bobbed out of it in an identical contest to this on his previous start, he is probably the most likely winner for his in-form (31% strike rate) handler.

However, I’m good to take him on with the better berthed ZACH (4), within two lengths of his rival in that aforementioned contest.

John Haran’s tracker, while a touch more exposed, ran well in a tougher Optional Claimer (1¹⁄₁₆m) next time before bagging a confidence-boosting Claiming win over this course and distance last time out. His consistent late pace figures, coupled with a likely more appealing price, are enough to swing the vote his way.

Turf maiden U R Not The Father (2), further back in that key clash behind the two considered principals, did nothing in a race switched to the main track next time, while Mr Sledge Hammer (6), out the back door that day, was probably flattered when getting within three lengths of pulling off a 140/1 shock in the Snack Handicap, some five lengths in front of Vienna Charm (10)…or maybe he wasn’t!

Turbo Duck (3) continued his progressive profile when bagging an Entry Level Allowance on the slop here last time, backing up a previous 24-length Maiden victory (!) - also on the dirt - and is one to keep an eye on in the betting.

Selection: ZACH (4)