Darrell Williams's US Racing Preview

The usual mix of Tuesday evening cards, but with Southwell live on Sky Sports Racing for the early part of the evening, US-racing diehards are steered towards the ATR Player before Stateside Live takes over some time after 8.30pm.

All four selections hail from Horseshoe Indianapolis, sometimes undervalued as a venue but one which more than holds its own against comparable outlets, and with one of the best callers at the helm in John G Dooley.

Good luck with your plays…

The Stateside Preview - Horseshoe Indianapolis for Tuesday 6th October 2026

Horseshoe Indianapolis 3 (8.12pm)

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

With potentially the strongest early speed to match what appears to be a class edge, ROCKIN ROCIO (5) rates the logical candidate.

The Cipriano Contreras-trained four-year-old couldn’t quite cut the mustard at the finish of a hotter $25K claimer (5½f) here last time out, but that run, coupled with placed efforts in second-level Allowance contests for a highly-consistent filly (seven places in nine local starts), stacks up well. A near 30% ‘double class drop’ angle for a stable that strikes at around 17% adds further evidence to the argument.

Air Up There (7) is not averse to displaying a touch of ‘early’, but her bid to keep the selection honest in their clash in August eventually proved too much, with Tim Eggleston’s charge fading badly. Marginally-better terms here do aid her cause, and she is still one for inclusion in the exotics, but turning the form around appears far less likely.

What About Now (1) peppered the frame when finishing ahead of Air Up There (7) in that key contest before doing the same in an Allowance last time but has posted her very best efforts under wet conditions, readily accounting for Sorry Not Sorry (3) back in June. That Michael Lauer-handled four-year-old has proved best on the turf, while a 12-0-0-2 local record further tempers enthusiasm.

Selection: ROCKIN ROCIO (5)

Horseshoe Indianapolis 5 (9.14pm)

Claimer – 3-year-olds and upwards – 6f – Dirt

POP PAUL (1), who has flirted with tougher company, can provide an edge on her a third start for Genaro Garcia, having started her career with Bob Hess in California. Despite a bumpy ride, she still ran a close up third in a $25K claimer (5½f) here last time and has the scope to progress again based on that West Coast form. While there is plenty of pace elsewhere, the mount of Amir Mendoza can utilise a good inside draw to press from the start.

Several of these met in a $20k course-and-distance claimer in late July, with Dauwe (9) faring best, and while the perennial quick-starter will need to use that dash from an outside draw, his card has enough lines of one-mile form to suggest he’s no one-trick pony. He finished just ahead of Longstrider (7) when they were second and third in that aforementioned clash, with the latter being a stablemate of the selection and having raced only eight times, after missing almost a year, he could still have more to offer. There are valid reasons to ignore his latest two starts, and he would benefit should a strong pace play out.

It’s hard to know whether Cardinal Union (6) will be able to repeat a tenth-time-of-asking maiden victory here (6½f) last month, but his chance will probably depend on getting a solid early pitch, while any positive market activity should also be noted.

Selection: POP PAUL (1)

Horseshoe Indianapolis 6 (9.45pm)

Claimer – 3-year-olds and upwards – 1m ½f – Turf

A brace of near misses in warmer affairs suggests ELEVATED GAME (3) will be a potent force at this level, with Randy Matthews’s gelding having returned to peak form following a lengthy absence prior to his comeback in June. His potential class advantage coupled with solid early fractions should enable Rodney Prescott to engage him prominently from the start.

The presence or otherwise of three of the five also-eligibles is likely to have a major bearing on the race, with Master Munnings (13) the strongest threat. Joe Sharp’s charge ships in from Turfway, but his pressing style has served him well of late, with his $16K optional claiming form at Penn amongst the best on offer. The speedy Go Stripes (12), picked off by Maki Monarchy (14) at Louisiana in August ($10K NW2L claimer), while not quite up to that level form-wise, still affords both at least minor claims should they get called up.

Monumentaljustice (1) may be engaging a rare run on the turf but has proved most effective on the ‘lawn’ here (two wins from five), and given his dirt form stacks up strongly, he should be monitored closely in the market.

Born Flashy (5), Missionary Man (8) and Brit’s Wit (2) are closely matched based on their second, third and fourth in similar company here (1m ½f) last time, with Missionary Man (8) given a chance to emerge best this time on slightly better terms, although Born Flashy (5) did a lot of running from a troubled position in that clash and could benefit from the probable fast pace.

Selection: ELEVATED GAME (3)

Horseshoe Indianapolis 8 (10.47pm)

Allowance – 3-year-olds and upwards – 1m ½f – Turf

A little late on a midweek evening for a selection - and you will need to access the ATR Player to watch - but DEERFIELD (9) can confirm the promise of his latest start to provide success for our own Adam Beschizza and Cherie DeVaux in the night’s feature. He was not given a hard time when the leader - a subsequent repeat winner next time out - had gone beyond recall at Colonial last time out (same grade and trip).

That was a marked step forward on a previous last-gasp maiden success over this course and distance, also under ‘The Biscuit’, and this late-closing, $450k Twirling Candy colt has more upside than his mostly-exposed rivals.

I had toyed with selecting Clear The Beach (3), and do consider Kelsey Danner’s six-time-raced gelding the main threat. He was used up when made favourite in a protracted speed battle when drawn wide at Kentucky Downs last time out, which foiled his chances, but a better run at this level at Ellis - which has also produced subsequent winners - outlines what he is capable of.

Berlone (1) returned from a break, after a winter/spring spent at Gulfstream, when finishing well in an Indiana-bred Stake over course and distance last time, suggesting he has retained all his previous form. Back with former trainer Raymond Paquette for that run, even though the yard has been quiet, it would be no surprise to see him figure at potentially-playable odds.

The pacey Bon Temps (6) would probably need to step up on his dominant $30NW2L claiming win here last time. However, for the more speculative of you out there, Garryowen (4), three lengths behind that rival that day but with a 7lb-weight turnaround at the weights, could be of interest if anywhere close to the 25/1 Morning Line odds.

Selection: DEERFIELD (9)