Paul Quigley's US Racing Preview

Wednesday’s Stateside Preview comes from Horseshoe Indianapolis and Thistledown. The better race of the two from the first-named venue is an allowance event for Indiana bred runners over a mile. The comebacking Terminally Handsom is clearly the runner to beat. He rounded out 2025 with two placed efforts, one in a stake. If he is on his game for his return, he is a very likely winner at a short price. Similarly, fitness is the question in the better race from Thistledown in the preview below. All bar one of the fillies and mares lack a recent start. The racing secretary has almost invented a condition to put on this event. Almost never do horses run to be claimed for as much as $75,000 in Ohio. It is a way of putting on a race for connections without them losing their horses in the claiming box.   

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 Horseshoe Indianapolis and Thistledown for Wednesday 6 May 2026

Horseshoe Indianapolis Race 4 (8.43pm)

Maiden Claiming $15,000 – Indian bred fillies and mares – 3 year olds and upwards – 6 Furlongs – Dirt

The standard setter is Nancy's Kitten (2). She showed form in some of her half a dozen races last year. The best of them was a close up third at today’s level. She made her four year old debut last month. In a cheaper maiden claimer than today’s, she was a well held third. The winner was a big class dropper. Depending how the unexposed runners do, a repeat of that run may well be good enough. She has speed and may be on or close to the early lead.  

Trainer Genaro Garcia is double handed here. His Band Band (5) looked like a fish out of water in a pair of maiden special weights last year. She showed her first form when a distant third in a similar race to this one on her comeback. Four lengths in front her was Air Sahara (4). She showed improved form running first time as a three year old. Racing with Lasix may have been key there. Her trainer Randy Klopp has made his usual fine start to this meet.           

Genaro Garcia’s Runway Showstopper (6) is one of two first time starters in this line up. Her trainer has a fair record with newcomers. So too has Tim Eggleston Tim. He introduces WHAT ABOUT HOPE (7) here. There are no clues with her pedigree. Her dam was unraced and has no foals on record to make the races. She has worked like she has a little ability including a nice drill from the gate on 9 April. In a maiden claimer where the standard setter look beatable, she may be worth chancing. 

Sassy Julia (8) is a ten time loser. She had a couple of runs last year that make her competitive.  

Selection: What About Hope (7)
No exotics

Thistledown Race 7 (8.50pm)

Claiming $75,000 – Ohio bred fillies and mares – 3 year olds and upwards – 6 Furlongs – Dirt

There are only five runners entered so this race can’t afford any scratches. AUTHORITARIAN GIRL (2) looks the gal to catch and beat. She came close to winning all four starts in 2025. Her best run came when wiring a stakes field by seven lengths from Lofty Cowtown (5). She beat the same rival by almost three lengths in a starter event next time. That was in August and she went to the sidelines after that. As well as strong back form, she is likely to be on the lead on her own. Her last two workouts are encouraging.    

Interestingly, Authoritarian Girl (2) was beaten by Kichi Kitsu (3) first time back last year. That mare was race fit at the time. She ran a trio of fine races in December and January. The best on paper was a stakes victory over a mile at Mahoning Valley. Her second to a quality Ohio bred sprinting subsequently was arguably a better effort. She has to be reckoned with along with Drills Wild Brat (4). The five year old didn’t last home when third to Kichi Kitsu (3) in that mile stake. She progressed last year and has the speed to get a nice trip. Her trainer has a good record with lay off runners.         

Waves Of Liberty (1) has been away since winning an allowance event here in October. She may need her best effort and the better types falter to win this. That is probably too with Lofty Cowtown (5). She is the only runner in this line up with a recent start. That may be enough for consideration for the forecast at least.    

Selection: Authoritarian Girl (2)
No exotics 

Horseshoe Indianapolis Race 5 (9.14pm)

Allowance (split conditions) – Indiana bred 3 year olds and upwards – 1 Mile – Dirt

Terminally Handsom (4) has been put in at odds on by the morning line odds maker. On face value, it is easy to see why. He has the best two lines of form in this line up. He rounded out his three year old season with two placed efforts. In October, he missed by a head in a state bred stake. Three weeks later, he was placed in a decent Indiana bred allowance event. He is a late runner who is like to get speed to chase down. This is his first start of the campaign. He did take a few runs to hit form last year. His trainer’s record with lay off runners is only fair at best.   

If Terminally Handsom (4) is odds on, he makes the market for others in here. Save My Town (5) was a good second at this level sprinting on his comeback last month. That was over six furlongs where Toy'stroubledhero (8) finished behind him. He has form over a mile but DREAMING BRO (6) finished ahead of him over a route trip in November. He’s back with that trainer after one poor run with another at Turfway in February. The five year old has been working well since returning to Indiana. He looks a playable alternative to the short-priced favourite.        

The lone three year old in this line up is Brazilian Conexao (3). His recent form has been darkened by runs in a stake at Turfway and an allowance event at Colonial Downs. He looked modest in sprints last year. Not so in his one start over a mile in November. There he wired a field of maidens by a dozen lengths. He has a chance off that run.  

Ease My Mind (7) didn’t finish far behind Terminally Handsom (4) in a stake here in October. Coach Knight (1) has been tackling open claimers at Parx. A repeat of his third in February gives him place claims.

Selection: Dreaming Bro (6)
No exotics 

Thistledown Race 8 (9.20pm)

Claiming $12,500 –Ohio bred 3 year olds and upwards – Non winners of 2 races lifetime – 6 Furlongs – Dirt

Trainer Shane Meyers is double-handed. His Balki Bartokomous (4) is in a decent form. He has been placed in his last three starts. All at a similar level to this one. The four year old has been stalking the pace lately. With not a lot of early zip in this line up. there is a chance Jose Bracho may have him on the lead on his own. He’s a big player here. 

It will be interesting to see if barn mate of Balki Bartokomous (4), O G Mr. Brightside (6) is scratched or takes his chances. The lone three-year-old in this line up was in deep in an allowance event last month. His maiden win in March came over a mile. He did run well sprinting prior to that. If Meyers pulls the trigger and plunges him in class, he is very dangerous.     

It is hard to know how they will bet this race. The former Emerald Downs based CALORESE (3) could go off market leader or even third favourite. The knocks on him are a lay off since September and his best form has come over a mile. This may be a sighter to improve his fitness before he runs in a route. There are angles in with him. He goes from open company to facing Ohio breds for the first time and has joined a capable trainer. The five year old drops in class into a weak race for his comeback. He may be worth siding with.

He's My Boy (7) plunges in class but did finish behind Balki Bartokomous (4) the last time he ran in a claimer. Donald's Nation (2) is only modest but does cut back to a his winning distance.    

Selection: Calorese (3)
No exotics