The clocks don’t spring forward until the end of this month. Until then, there is only a four hour time difference between the east coast of the United States and The UK. The result some of the cards haver almost finished by the time many of you have even thought about getting involved. That is an issue, especially Monday through Wednesday. There is the late-starting Turf Paradise. The problem is there first thoroughbred race is not until 9.11pm GMT. That would mean a preview going on until getting on to 11pm. Instead I have picked the last two races at Mahoning Valley and a couple from Tampa that dovetail nicely.
Remember if any Stateside tracks or races are not covered by Sky Sports Racing, you can watch all of them on the Attheraces.com Player. That’s for free.
The Stateside Preview from Mahoning Valley and Tampa Bay Downs for Wednesday 18 March 2026
Claiming $10,000 – Fillies and Mares – 4 year olds and upwards – 7 Furlongs – Dirt
CHARLIE'S BEAUTY (7) looks a worthy favourite. She is a progressive four year old who took another step forward running first time for trainer Juan Avila. He cut her back from a mile and she scored over today’s course and distance last month. She did it well by six lengths. The third has come back to win since. This is a step up in class from the $6,250 level. Judging by the manner of victory and her current sharpness, she looks very capable of doubling up.
A trio of this field ran in a race at today’s level but over six furlongs early this month. (4) and (2) filled the places. Thelastbulletsmine (4) should run well again if she can again make the lead on her own. Dancing Raquel (2) runs as if more ground today will suit. (3) has a bit to find with hat pair. She sat off a slow pace and wasn’t seen in a great light as a result. It is not impossible with a better race flow and seven furlongs will see her reverse the form.
(5) and (1) ran one-two for half today’s claiming price less than a fortnight ago. The pair add depth to this race. So too does the in form (6). She has been second in her last three races, the last two for today’s claiming price. The winner of her last race scored by ten lengths next time suggesting she faced a stiff task there. She has been running over a mile. The five year old has won over today’s distance.
The X Factor in here is the class dropping (8). All her form is on the turf but hasn’t tried dirt for a long time.
Selection: Charlie's Beauty (7)
No exotics
Allowance – Ohio bred 3 year olds and upwards – Non winners of 2 races lifetime – 6 Furlongs – Dirt
SHELTOWEES ROCKET (5) has ran well in all four career starts. He didn’t see out the mile distance as the well as first two when third at the start of the month. The three year old should be suited by the cut back to six furlongs. He broke his maiden over the trip in December. Next time, he had a few of these behind him when second at this level over course and distance. That was not a deep race for the level. The good news for his chances is this race seems to have come up just as modest.
Of those that finished behind Sheltowees Rocket (5) last time, (4) has definite upside. He has plenty of form over six furlongs that puts him right there. That includes a good second in a similar event to this in January. (3) is likely to take more money than him. His three runs at Tampa seem only to get some foundation into him. He came to life facing Ohio breds on his local debut at the start of the month. The winning time was nothing special and he beat nothing of note. The chances are he takes another step forward here.
(1) hasn’t reproduced his wide margin maiden win form in a trio of subsequent starts. His last run was his best since that day. He set the pace only to fade a little late on to be third at this level last month. The rail drawn runner may have the best speed in this event. He is dangerous, especially if he makes the lead on his own.
(7) is exposed and been on one career victory for a very long time. He has ran the odd contending race including a close second in a claimer in December. Last time maiden winner (6) is not as fast as paper as him. His best races are likely to be ahead of him.
Selection: Sheltowees Rocket (5)
No exotics
Claiming $16,000 – Fillies and Mares – 3 year olds and upwards – Non winners of 3 races lifetime – 1 1/16 Miles – Turf
Many chances here. (6) is one of them. She improved second time back to be beaten under five lengths in an allowance optional claimer at Gulfstream. That was over five furlongs. She has form over a mile and more. The four year old looks a big player on the significant class drop. She may have company on the front end from the likes of (5). She’s another stretching out from sprints.
(1) and LADY EMBRACE (4) were well beaten last time. The pair were overmatched in a deep handicap. The rail drawn runner was a winner of a claimer here in December. She has upside. So too is does old rival Lady Embrace (4). Judging by a victory in January, she looks an improved runner since joining trainer Derek Ryan. She’s reunited with winning rider Sonny Leon on her return to claiming company. She may be the answer here.
(11) has shown improved form since losing to the selection in January. In her latest start, she was a winner over a field of one-time career winners. Based on the speed figures she’s been running, she may be able to handle the rise in class. She looks at least as likely as (10). That filly ran second at today’s level here at the start of the month. In doing so, she reversed the form with (12) who was too keen early on. (8) finished behind her too but was off a step slowly. Her runs either side of New Year make her a player.
Selection: Lady Embrace (4)
No exotics
Maiden Special Weight – Ohio bred 3 year olds and upwards – 6 Furlongs – Dirt
Quite a few of these ran in a maiden over course and distance on 24 February. DRAGON HUNTER (3) did the best of them running second. He seemed to run the best race of any in that race. The three year old was the only runner of the pace brigade to stick around whereas the winner sat well off the early fractions. He’s only had two career starts so there may be better to come from him. (7) stayed on late to be third in the same maiden. He may get a similar set up so has to be reckoned with.
(1) was making his career debut when well behind the selection last month. He attended the pace. His rider put his cue in the rack when it was obvious he wasn’t going to contend. He is better than that result suggests and is a likely improver second time out. That could be the case with (5) who ran evenly on debut just over a fortnight ago. (8) is likely to take more money than him. He was an encouraging fourth on his career debut. On the back of that, his connections took a shot in a stakes race. He looks dangerous dropping in class back into maiden company.
(4) is in good hands so a heavy loss in that 24 February maiden may not be a true indication of his ability. He races in blinkers for career start number two. Jockey Jose Bracho seems to prefer (2). He finished behind Rivers Of Wealth (7) last time but now races with blinkers off. As none of these have achieved the par speed figure for a maiden, he can’t be discounted. That is definitely the case with barn mates (5) and (9). The pair make their career debuts. Based on jockey bookings, Boaz (9) looks the first string. He worked well on Friday.
Selection: Dragon Hunter (3)
No exotics
