US racing tips: Templegate’s best bets for the meeting at Tampa Bay Downs on Sky Sports Racing on Sunday
TAMPA BAY DOWNS
5.40
PINK PEPPERMINT has shown lots of promise in her short career so far and looks the type to improve for this drop in distance and return to the dirt. Her trainer is in red-hot form lately and can clock up another winner.
6.10
FIRST DEGREE is coming back from a little break but was knocking on the door in stronger races than this at Aqueduct before his layoff. He finished off well last time and looks the one to beat.
6.42
HARD N SWEET went close on his debut here last time. He came from a long way back to finish second behind a winner that had flown. He looked green there so should improve plenty for the experience.
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7.15
LADY’S ISLAND has hardly put a foot wrong for a couple of seasons with nine wins from her past 11 outings. She had plenty in hand when scoring by two lengths over course and distance latest. Anything like that form would be good enough.
7.45
QUEENS EMBRACE has enjoyed herself since moving to Tampa with three wins, the past two coming on this turf track. She is unbeaten over this distance and has been clocking the best speed figures of this field.
8.15
MEILLEUR is taking a drop in class for this return to his favoured dirt surface after a modest effort on turf last time out. He had seven lengths in hand when scoring on over course and distance before that and can find that form again.
8.45
FIRST COURSE got no luck in running over course and distance last time when still running on well to take third on the line. That was her first sight of this track so she should improve today and looks well capable of winning a race like this.
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9.15
ENGLISH LAUGHTER was chinned on the line over a mile here last time having been in the lead for much of the way. That makes this drop back to seven furlongs a wise move and this doesn’t look the strongest of contests.
9.45
BAHAMA PEARL has a few questions to answer after finishing second at long odds-on here last time — but his yard has a brilliant record with beaten favourites. She is bred to be better on turf so the surface switch looks a wise move.