Saturday’s US Horse Racing Tips: Imposing Etnico can make it second-time lucky

This weekend’s best Stateside action comes at Fair Grounds, which is one of just a few tracks that I pay little attention to year-in year-out due to licensing rights limiting their coverage.

I’ll stick to what I know and begin with a strong selection at Gulfstream Park in the form of Etnico, who will make his second career start in the $84,000 maiden special weight (6.37) early on the card.

Jorge Delgado’s son of Practical Joke is one of the best-looking horses on show on Saturday - he’s a big and imposing three-year-old - and his works match his beauty. Etnico, who cost $325,000 at the sales, posted a selection of rapid four-furlong breezes prior to his debut and has improved since in a couple of bullet workouts.

His sole racecourse experience came on February 11 - I tipped him to make a winning start on Sky Sports Racing but unfortunately he came up short after travelling like the best horse in the race. The eventual winner has subsequently come back to finish fourth in a deep allowance optional claimer to give the form some substance.

Etnico’s early speed will be put to good use from gate two and, although I also tipped the reopposing Case last time out, that rival will have to prove that he has the speed to handle the drop to five-and-a-half furlongs after looking tapped for toe over a mile. He has the talent but surely wants more distance.

The second selection in Saturday’s double is Scilly Cay, who will break from the inside stall in a $50,000 starter allowance (9.26) contest at Aqueduct. This six-year-old is super consistent and represents potentially the hottest barn (Linda Rice) in New York right now.

He needs a fast pace to be seen at his best, which looks highly likely in this spot given the abundance of front-runners in the field, and it’s interesting to see that he returns to this grade after being scratched from a claimer on March 12.

Eric Cancel is having the best season of his riding career according to win percentage and, providing the expected early scramble for the lead takes place, his mount Scilly Cay will prove extremely tough to hold inside the final furlong.

Saturday’s US Horse Racing Tips

Etnico (6.37 Gulfstream Park) @ 5/4 or better (7/5 M/L)
Scilly Cay (9.26 Aqueduct) @ 2/1 or better (2/1 M/L)

Prices used are a value guide as none were available at the time of writing. Opening show will be taken for P/L purposes.