Paul Quigley's US Racing Preview

It is a little disappointing that there is no stakes feature at Saratoga this Sunday, but it is still a good card. The best event (race six) makes the preview below, which is an allowance optional claimer for fillies and mares. Trainer Chad Brown sets a poser by entering a pair. Flavien Prat apparently gets off one of them to ride for Al Stall. There may be a plausible explanation, but it does muddy the waters in what looks a tricky race.

Like in upstate New York, there are no stakes on the card at Ellis Park either. The two races in the preview have graded stakes runner Amber Cascade in one and potential stakes runner Tap To Open in the other.

There is a stakes event at Monmouth Park, however, in the shape of the Irish War Cry for New Jersey-breds. Likely short-priced favourite There Are No Words is due to run, though he is without a win in his last three runnings.

Remember, if any Stateside tracks or races are not covered by Sky Sports Racing, you can still watch them all on the ATR Player for free!

The Stateside Preview - Ellis Park, Monmouth Park and Saratoga for Sunday 12th July 2026

Monmouth Park 5 (8.06pm)

Irish War Cry – A stake for New Jersey-bred 3-year-olds and upwards – 1 Mile – Dirt

THERE ARE NO WORDS (7) looks a worth short-priced favourite. As well as lacking a recent race, he was up against it in a deep open stake on his comeback. He was far from disgraced, being beaten four lengths after setting the pace. Second time back in 2026, he drops massively in class to face his fellow New Jersey-breds. He ran some bang-up races in defeat last year and in tougher spots. Interestingly, he has been beaten in the last three running’s of this race. He did run well in all of them. He’s speedy but can run his race from stalk mode.

There Are No Words (7) is now seven and isn’t getting any better. Whether any of his rivals can turn him over is another matter. On form, Great Navigator (2) has runs that make him very competitive. Whether he can contend trying the turf for the first time on career start 27 is open to question. See The Truth (1) and Giant James (4) have no worries about the footing. The pair may lack a bit of class but will benefit from pace up front. See The Truth (1) was overmatched last time in an open allowance event. Giant James (4) was up against race flow-wise in a deep state-bred event last month.

Gold Trust (6) is interesting at least from a pace point of view. He won back-to-back races last year, including a state-bred stake. They were sprinting. He seemed to have no excuses when on the lead when a neck behind the selection in this race last year. If his rider can set an easy tempo, he could round out the exacta at least. Happy Offering (3) could add to the speed mix. He did get it easy on the front when wiring a field of New Jersey-breds on dirt last month.

Spiritinthenight (8) and Midnight Story (9) are unexposed in routes. The last-named is a lightly-raced five-year-old who may be capable of better.

Selection: THERE ARE NO WORDS (7)
Exotic Play: Reversed Exacta/Forecast (2 bets): Giant James (4) and There Are No Words (7)

Ellis Park 6 (8.12pm)

Allowance (split conditions) – Fillies and mares – 3-year-olds and upwards – 1 Mile – Dirt

Tap To Open (5) is likely to be favourite or one of the favourites. The three-year-old has ran big in both starts since she returned in April. She ran a good second in a maiden at Oaklawn before going one better in another at Churchill in May. Her trainer Brad Cox has started this meet off well. He has a fine record with freshened up runners. She meets winners for the first time. Based on the speed figures he’s been running, is more than capable of winning this. She is a full brother to dual graded stakes winner Charge it so there may be better to come from her.

Tap To Open (5) has speed. Jaime Torres may have to adopt stalking tactics with other front-end types in here. One such runner is Heartbeat (4). She landed the odds in a starter event at Churchill in the slop last month. Her second in another there prior to that was arguably a better effort. Moon Over Choctaw (6) makes the same class move. Her victory at Churchill followed an eight-length romp in a claimer. The hat-trick seeker is very much worth her place in this line up.

Rando (3) is another gal who won a starter event at Churchill last time. She may be a price going for low a profile but capable trainer. Likewise COLONIAL ROSE (2) off an even effort on her return. Seven furlongs is a bit short for her. She ran well at this level over an extended mile at Oaklawn in February. Even better over this one turn configuration at Churchill last November. With a nice trip off what may be decent early fractions likely, she could go well.

Crimsonite (1) has had some time away after going off form. Longshot-backers have a big effort the one time she ran over course and distance to cling onto. Fellow returnee Huck's Agenda (7) needs to get faster. She is a lightly-raced three-year-old, so she may do.

Selection: COLONIAL ROSE (2)
Exotic Play: Reversed Exacta/Forecast (2 bets): Colonial Rose (2) and Tap To Open (5)

Ellis Park 7 (8.42pm)

Allowance Optional Claiming – Fillies and mares – 3-year-olds and upwards – 1¹⁄₁₆ Miles – Turf

Four of these fillies and mares ran in a race at this level over a mile at Churchill last month. She's Lookin Lucky (4) did the best of them running second with SMILING ELLIE (7) and For Love And Honor (5) third and fourth. The winner was a former French-trained runner who has turned the corner. She's Lookin Lucky (4) has some speed in a paceless affair. She is an obvious player. The worry with her is an 11-race losing streak. Smiling Ellie (7) did finish just ahead of her at Churchill when the pair filled the places prior to that. The winner took a Grade 3 next time. She should get a nice forward trip in a race it may pay to be front rank.

On class, the comebacking Amber Cascade (1) is the gal to beat. She ran second in the Grade 2 Flower Bowl last August. That was over 11 furlongs. She did lose by a head in a $250,000 stake over a mile here prior to that. Pace to chase down helped her that day. The likely race flow here may be different. She did win first time back in 2025 but that was off a much shorter lay off. Despite the questions, she is the gal to fear under teenage riding sensation Yedsit Hazlewood.

Looking at her profile, Bill Mott’s Wind Flower (3) has a look of a work in progress. She has shown progressive form in the first part of her four-year-old season. Last month at Churchill, she was a clear-cut winner at the level below this one at Churchill. That run puts her right in the mix. She did get speed to chase down that day. Interestingly, she had the pace to make all at Gulfstream in February. She will rightly have her supporters in a race all but two of these have fair claims.

La Marinera (2) was beaten on the square in the race She's Lookin Lucky (4) ran second in last time. For Love And Honor (5) ran better in the same contest but probably needs a few things to go her way. Sanctify (6) is a two-time winner over today’s turf track.

Selection: SMILING ELLIE (7)
No exotics

Saratoga 6 (9.04pm)

Allowance Optional Claiming – Fillies and mares – 3-year-olds and upwards – Non-winners of 3 races lifetime – 6½ Furlongs – Dirt

Chad Brown is double-handed here. His comebacking ALYESKA (7) has ran well in all four career starts. She may have beaten barn-mate Limes Don't Lie (3) in an allowance event here last August but for being bumped at the break. Six weeks or so later, she beat a next time out winner in an entry level allowance event at Aqueduct. She’s not raced since September. Her trainer has a fine record with lay off runners as she is proven fresh. She may be backable odds as for some reason regular rider Flavien Prat lands elsewhere.

Limes Don't Lie (3) went to the sidelines after edging out Alyeska (7) last summer. She has been placed in both her starts since she returned whilst not running to her best. In fairness, she was never going to live with Grade 1 winner Scottish Lassie when that runner was afforded an easy lead last time. There is nothing of that ilk in this line up. She is a player in a race with a few chances or angles in.

Flavien Prat riding Strong State (4) is interesting, but it may hurt her price. She is a lightly-raced four-year-old who was a Grade 3 runner up last September. The chances are she improves off a fourth in an allowance event at Churchill. Her trainer Al Stall has traditionally done well with the limited starters he’s had at this meet. She would be seen to best effect with speed to chase down. In contrast, She's A Gamer (1) could outrun her odds with the lead on her own. This is a much tougher field than the one she crushed at Monmouth last month.

Sing A Little Song (5) finished behind Strong State (4) last time but did have a wide trip. Ultimate Authority (2) has back class. She has had a break after losing her form. Maybe The Big Calhouna (6) is a more of a potential upsetter. She was claimed by Linda Rice at Aqueduct last month. Her trainer has a fine record with first time acquisitions at Saratoga. She has the back form to contend. Many Franco may have her positioned early to her advantage, just off the rail-drawn filly.

Selection: ALYESKA (7)
No exotics