Barry Faulkner's US Racing Preview

For my Tuesday preview this week I have had a look at a couple of races from Horseshoe Indianapolis, wrapped around one each from Presque Isle Downs, and Thistledown, all scheduled to take place in just over half an hour - live on Sky Sports Racing.

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

The Stateside Preview - Horseshoe Indianapolis, Presque Isle Downs, and Thistledown races for Tuesday 26th May 2026

Horseshoe Indianapolis 5 (9.14pm)

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

On debut in early March, Jendini (8), second favourite that day, was a nose off the runner-up spot when 3rd, 4 lengths behind the winning jolly over this trip at Turfway Park. It was a promising first effort and, with the switch to dirt unlikely to be an issue on breeding, she would not have to progress much to hit the par speed figure here. 

Three-year-old Point In Time (7) showed a bit of promise when finishing 4½ lengths 5th of twelve, going five furlongs on turf in a Maiden Special Weight at Churchill Downs towards the end of November. However, when stepped up to as mile on grass at Gulfstream Park on her next outing in early February, she chased a decent early pace, before fading to finish last of the twelve runners. Her speed figure from her debut, if taken at face value, would give her a strong chance here but being from a short sprint on turf, I am a little sceptical of its reliability.  

The most interesting runner for me here may be the debutante LAMORNA INN (3). A Juddmonte homebred, she is by Munnings out of Wall of Compassion, a daughter of Jimmy Creed. That lass won on her juvenile debut and followed that with a 3rd place in the Adirondack G2 on her next start. She has produced two winners from her four foals to race so far, and her daughter arrives here from a steady slate of works. Her training pattern has been a bit stop and start but this may not take much winning and I think she may be worth an interest.

Selection: LAMORNA INN (3)

Thistledown 8 (9.20pm)

Claimer ($5,000) N1/6m – 3 year olds and upwards – One mile - Dirt

This modest Claimer is open to runners that have not won a race in the last six months. 

Just over three weeks ago, SIGHT UNSEEN (4) was beaten 5¼ lengths into 2nd place in one of these but finished 3 lengths in front of Auld Lang Syne (6) in 3rd, with Royally Flushed (7), 2¾ lengths further back in 4th. Those relative finishing positions were as predicted by the betting but, although Royally Flushed (7) faded badly late there, he paid for getting involved in the early pace battle, and had a brief lead on the home turn before weakening in the lane. He could be fancied to do better than that if he managed to control things from the front, but that looks unlikely with stretch out sprinter Loony (1), a possible pace pest, in the line-up. 

Harbour Bridge (5) has finished in the frame in nearly two thirds of his thirty-one races but his three wins are outnumbered by his eleven 2nd placings. He had a fair time of it over the winter and into spring at Mahoning Valley, finishing in the frame in four of his five races in nonwinners of four, $7,500 Claimers there. However, after a tardy start, he was never involved in a stronger contest than this, going five and a half furlongs here at the beginning of this this month. Although the large majority of his races have come over sprint trips, he has showed that this distance may not be an issue, when he finished 2nd, beaten 2½ lengths in nonwinners of three, $12,500 Claimer at Mountaineer Park back in September. 

I have convinced myself that this is a KISS race – Keep It Simple Stupid – with Sight Unseen (4) getting the nod. 

Selection: SIGHT UNSEEN (4)

Presque Isle Downs 3 (9.24pm)

Allowance Optional Claimer ($40,000) N2X or N4L – 3 year olds and upwards – Six furlongs – Tapeta

Dowagiac Chief (1) has finished in the frame in seven of his eleven races here, but only one of those resulted in a trip to the Winner’s Circle. That came towards the end of July last year when he won a split condition, $20,000 Claimer going six and a half furlongs. He was 19-1 locally for that win, but two runs later he took a split condition Allowance as the 9-5 favourite, going a mile at Mountaineer Park. Then, another two runs after that victory, he finished 2¾ lengths, 3rd of four in a $25,000 Starter Optional Claimer behind the even money favourite SAINT GOAR (3). His 2025 season came to a close when he finished 7th of ten in a second level Allowance Optional Claimer at Laurel in late October. 

After beating Dowagiac Chief (1), Saint Goar (3) moved to Mahoning Valley (3) where he has raced five times. He made little impression in a couple of two turn contests there but won a third level Allowance in October, with You Bet A Fortune (5), who was burned in a speed duel there, fading to finish 5th of the six runners, beaten 6¾ lengths. Saint Goar (3) went on to finish 2nd in two other sprint starts there this year, first in a time restricted Allowance, then a Starter Optional Claimer at the end of March. His 5-1 Morning Line price may underestimate his chance here. 

You Bet A Fortune (5) made his 2026 return in an unconditional Allowance at Mountaineer Park sixteen days ago where he well beaten by the 2-5 favourite. That should have primed the Morning Line favourite for this but I am going with Saint Goar (3), who is a bet for me at anywhere near his ML price.
 
Selection: SAINT GOAR (3)

Horseshoe Indianapolis 6 (9.45pm)

Maiden Claimer ($30,000) – Fillies and mares 3 year olds – One mile - Turf

All the races so far for She’s Chloe (8) have come at Gulfstream Park, starting with a 1¼ lengths 3rd in a $35,000 Maiden Claimer, going eight and a half furlongs just over thirteen months ago. She was off for over ten months after that, before reappearing in the same grade, when she kept on well to finish 4th, beaten 1¾ lengths going a mile, with Added Touch (3) another 2½ behind on her 2026 return. A month later, She’s Chloe (8) was stepped up slightly in grade in a race that was switched to the stretched mile on the Tapeta track, finishing a well beaten 5th of eight. Then, in the middle of April, back at a mile on turf in another $35,000 Maiden Claimer, she finished last of six but was only 1¾ lengths behind the winner after putting in a decent late kick. If she can replicate her speed figures from Florida, she would be difficult to beat here. 

Although she wasn’t beaten far - 3 ¾ lengths - Lady Of Lords (1) was only 8th of ten in a Maiden Special Weight at Gulfstream Park towards the end of February, earning a speed figure right on the par here. Just over five weeks after that, in the same grade, going eight and a half furlongs in a race switched to Tapeta, she was pinched at the start then bobbled and was pulled up shortly afterwards, before being walked off the track. She was back at the races just under four weeks later in the same grade going a mile on turf but after a slow start was never involved. However, easing in class here, I don’t think she can be dismissed too lightly.   

CAT ISLAND (7) could be fancied on the form of her one run on turf so far, from five starts in total. That came four days into 2026, in just her second race. Facing nine opponents in a Maiden Special Weight at Gulfstream Park, she tracked the early pace going a mile, before moving up to challenge on the home turn and was still in it at the furlong pole, before fading to finish 5th beaten 4½ lengths. She returned to sprinting after that, first at Turfway Park, then Keeneland, making little impact. However, she is another who should appreciate dropping in grade, and back on turf here. 

Selection: CAT ISLAND (7)