Barry Faulkner's US Racing Preview

Delaware Park provides two races for my Tuesday betting window this week, enveloping one each from Fairmount Park and Thistledown.

Hopefully the analysis below will guide you to some profitable play but, whichever way you make your picks, good luck everyone!

Delaware Park, Fairmount Park and Thistledown for Tuesday 21st July 2026

Delaware Park 8 (9.14pm)

Starter Optional Claimer ($16,000 / $16/000) N3L – Fillies and mares; 3-year-olds and upwards – One mile - Dirt

Yes Picnic (1) made a late start to her juvenile campaign, but it was a winning one, taking a $40,000 Maiden Claimer going six furlongs at Philadelphia Park in the second half of November last year. Just over three weeks later, she added a $25,000 Claimer over the same trip at Laurel. Her first three starts this year were also at the Maryland track, but she could finish no better than 4th in any of them. She had excuses in the first two, but back at three quarters of a mile in early June, when beaten 10 lengths in 4th of five in a nonwinners of three $12,500 Claimer, was a disappointing effort. Then two weeks ago she was shipped to Parx again, looking for easier pickings in a similar contest over the stretched mile there. She wasn’t the best away but took over after half a mile and continued to add to her lead. At the to the wire, she had 11¾ lengths to spare over her nearest pursuer, earning a speed figure well ahead of any she had achieved previously, and right on the par for this level.

AMERICAN SELECT (2) was 6-5 favourite to win one of these, over this course and distance just under four weeks ago. Reserved early, she made a wide move, circling the field on the home turn and looked dangerous when straightening up. However, the leader had something in reserve, and American Select (2) didn’t help herself when failing to switch leads in the stretch as she went down to a length defeat in 2nd, 5¼ lengths ahead of the 3rd. In May she won a better Starter Optional Claimer than this at Laurel, and at her Morning Line price of 6-1, I would be interested.

As The Bell Toles (3) has been claimed out of a couple of split condition Claimers on her last two starts, winning the second by 6½ lengths. However, this is quite a step up in grade.

Two starts back, Violet’s Charm (4) was a comfortable winner of a nonwinners of two Starter Optional Claimer. She then ran in one with today’s win restriction but with a $30,000 qualifying tag. She looked well positioned in that off turf contest but couldn’t trouble the first two when things got serious, and at the wire was beaten by 5¾ lengths and a length into 3rd. However, she should appreciate the ease in class here.

Selection: AMERICAN SELECT (2)

Thistledown 8 (9.20pm)

Maiden Special Weight – Fillies and mares; 3-year-olds and upwards – Six furlongs - Dirt

Candy Sprinkles (6) made a satisfactory debut in one of these over this trip, when she finished 3½-lengths 2nd to the 4-5 favourite who led for most of the race and was always in control. Just over three weeks later, she was the jolly in this grade, going off at 9-10, when racing over 110 yards shorter. Again she wasn’t the sharpest away, racing behind a pace set by debutante Johanna’s Life (7), and although she got past that lass in the final furlong, she was still well behind the winner, who scooted away to take it by 5¼ lengths.

Johanna’s Life (7) held onto 3rd comfortably enough, finishing 4¼ lengths in front of Tiz Magnificent (3) in 4th and she should come on for the run. Indeed, given average improvement, she would be capable of surpassing the par speed figure here.

ZOOM ZOOM AYLA (8) finished in mid-division on debut in a Maiden Special Weight at Horseshoe Indianapolis towards the end of May. Her work since then has a solid look to it, and although it would be no surprise to see Johanna’s Life (7) turn around the form with Candy Sprinkles (6) today, Zoom Zoom Ayla (8) may be capable of beating them both.

Selection: ZOOM ZOOM AYLA (8)

Fairmount Park 6 (9.35pm)

Claimer ($6,250) N4L – Fillies and mares; 3-year-olds and upwards – Five and a half furlongs – Dirt

The Morning Line favourite Escovedo (6) managed to get off the mark on her fourth start, but she had to plummet in class into an ‘off turf’ $6,250 Maiden Claimer at Hawthorne in October to get the job done. She was claimed out of that race and made her next start in a nonwinners of two, $15,000 Claimer at Turfway Park in early December, over five furlongs, like her maiden breaker. She set the pace there before fading to finish 4th, beaten 1¾ lengths by the winner. Off for over four months, she returned at Hawthorne over this trip, dropped in grade to win a $5,000 nonwinners of two Claimer by 1¾ lengths. Then 10 days ago here over the same distance, she won a $5,000, Claimer restricted to two-time winners, taking that one by 2½ lengths. Up in grade again, her price (7-5) looks tight to me.

At the end of May, on her first start here, in a $5,000 nonwinners of three Claimer over this trip, GOLDEN EDGE (2) led all the way to score by 4 lengths from Cookin The Books (8), who won one herself on her next start. Three weeks later, Golden Edge (2) - who was claimed out of her previous run - had established a 3 lengths lead after going two of the six furlongs in one of these before fading late to finish 3rd, eventually beaten by 1¾ and 2½ lengths. She was back to her former barn after that following a claim back, and I don’t think her Morning Line price of 8-1 does her justice.

Selection: GOLDEN EDGE (2)

Delaware Park 9 (9.46pm)

Allowance Optional Claimer ($62,500) N3Xb – 3-year-olds and upwards – One mile and 70 yards - Dirt

After a break of close to 11 months, Speedyness (3) returned at his home base of Parx in the middle of May. That was in an unconditional open Allowance Optional Claimer going a mile, with a tag of $100,000, although he ran without. He set the pace as usual, leading to the quarter pole before fading to finish 5th of six, eventually beaten 6¾ lengths by the winner. Four weeks later in the same grade, but running for sale going 70 yards further, he led to just inside the final furlong before finishing 2nd beaten 2 lengths. A Black-Type Stakes winner last year, it was no surprise that he was put in at evens on the Morning Line.

After struggling in four starts at Oaklawn Park, Tracking Error (4) won a second level Allowance Optional Claimer going a mile here at the beginning of June. In another five-runner field, he raced in the last pair but not too far off the modest fractions before drawing clear to win by 3½ lengths, earning a fair ‘number’ considering the steady pace. He steps up in grade here but should benefit from having a better rave set up here.

However, SHAFT’S BULLET (2) is one that intrigues me here. After a winning three of his six starts in 2024, including a Black-Type Stake, at Laurel, he struggled somewhat last year, with his 1½-lengths 4th in an unconditional Allowance, going six furlongs here, his best effort. His season came to a close at the end of May 2025, and he didn’t return to the races until just under five weeks ago. That was in a split condition, Allowance Optional Claimer going six furlongs at Laurel. Racing well off a robust early pace, he finished well and had a short lead at the furlong pole before finishing a nose 2nd, with Howgreatisnate (5) ambling along to finish 4th, 2 lengths further back. I would have been preferred to have seen him have another race over a two-turn trip to confirm his wellbeing, but I am happy to take a chance with him here.

Selection: SHAFT’S BULLET (2)