Our US expert thinks an improving filly can stay the trip at Tampa Bay on Sunday

Stormy D
6.48 Tampa Bay Downs
2pts winQueens Embrace
8.51 Tampa Bay Downs
1pt winDon'teasethetiger
11.45 Golden Gate Fields
1pt winRarely do you see 1m3f turf contests in the US, especially at Tampa Bay Downs, but we're treated to a $20,700 starter handicap (6.48) over that distance on Sunday's card and hopes are high that
Stormy D will be best suited to the stamina-sapping test.

John Rigattieri's four-year-old filly appears to have what it takes to get this trip on pedigree. Her sire, Will Take Charge, won the Grade 1 Travers Stakes over 1m2f with a stout staying effort, while her dam, Stormy Dixie, was a winner over a mile and an eighth.

Stormy D's recent outings back up that claim. She has proved better than ever since moving to Tampa Bay, recording form figures of 2112 there, and followed two successes over a mile with a creditable second over a mile and an eighth last time.

She was caught too far back that day and was forced to swing
seven-wide off the final bend which massively inconvenienced her, but she stayed on powerfully down the centre of the track to finish a never-nearer second to the reopposing Native Lion.

Stormy D and Native Lion were running off level weights that day but the former gets a 2lb swing this time around and that should prove more than enough to reverse form with that rival, who also had the run of the race last time.

A bigger danger could be Colonels Daughter, who was third that day despite lugging in on the run-in. She was giving 3lb to both the winner and the second and finished fairly close up, so finds herself better off here.

Hopefully Jesus Castanon, who rides Stormy D, can get the jump on that rival as they both finish powerfully.

The best race on the Tampa card is the allowance optional claimer (8.51) for fillies and mares, in which Duchess Of Sussex is likely to go off a short-priced favourite for Graham Motion.

She has plenty of pace, is on the up and did well to win from a wide draw at Gulfstream last time, but she represents little value at her morning line price of 5-2 in a competitive race and I would rather take her on with the improving Queens Embrace.

This filly, who represents one of the leading trainers at the track in Kathleen O'Connell, has improved plenty since moving to Tampa and is unbeaten at the track in two starts, progressing from a maiden claimer to win a starter optional claimer in fine style last time.

Queens Embrace didn't have the best trip that day but made a huge bid entering the straight and drew clear to win by two lengths under Antonio Gallardo, and the form was given a big boost when
runner-up, Sugar Fix, hacked up on Friday's card.

She needs to improve on speed figures but is completely unexposed and has had three workouts since that effort last month. Don't underestimate her ability.

We also have a competitive card over at Golden Gate Fields and although I don't often take on a Juan Hernandez-ridden favourite, especially when they have the ideal draw and pace scenario, I'm going to give a chance to Don'teasethetiger in the $18,000 claimer (11.52).

A three-time winner from 13 starts, Don'teasethetiger has never produced his best at this track (0-4) but has made the switch to top trainer Jonathan Wong since his last outing, and that barn have an incredible record with runners first off the claim.

Wong obviously saw something in Don'teasethetiger's effort last time when last of six, which might be the the fact that he was caught three-wide throughout and still made a strong bid rounding the bend.

He was sent off a 5-2 shot that day while reopposing market leader Potente Alba was a shade of odds-on, so there isn't much between the duo, and he appears to have a better draw this time around.

Hopefully he can produce a late kick to chase down the jolly, who will try to make all from the inside stall but has failed to see out shorter trips in recent starts and could be running on empty late.

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