US racing tips: Shane Ketteridge with a strong fancy at Gulfstream Park

Toro Strike
8.56 Fair Grounds
1pt win

Drain The Clock
10.10 Gulfstream Park
3pt win

Dubai World Cup night is now just five weeks away and at this time of the year it is always worth watching out for US-trained horses who are having prep races for the big night at Meydan. One who is doing so on Saturday is Drain The Clock who is using the $150,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint Stakes as a stepping stone for the $2,000,000 Dubai Golden Shaheen and is expected to come through this with flying colours.

Saffie Joseph Jr's colt has won seven of his 11 starts to date, two of which have come over this course on the dirt and he’s also won three times in graded class including a Grade 1 and two Grade 2s.

Those victories came in the first half of 2021 so this is a good time of year for the son of Maclean’s Music who I doubt we have seen the best of. According to reports from his trainer he’s been 'training lights-out’ so no stone will be left unturned in his pursuit of glory in the UAE and he should win this before lining up in Dubai on March 26.

Fair Grounds plays host to some mouth-watering races on Saturday, all of which are competitive affairs, but there’s one horse who catches the eye making his debut on US soil, the ex-Richard Fahey trained Toro Strike, who can take the $100,000 Colonel Power Stakes.

Now trained by Todd Pletcher, this son of Toronado improved a great deal last year and was last seen winning the Group 3 Supreme Stakes at Goodwood and he is the type of horse who will thrive in America as he has a high cruising speed and a very good turn of foot.

He begins over an extended five furlongs, which is slightly on the short side, but there’s a few in here who are likely to go off quick, so expect Luis Saez to be patient on him before coming with a late rattle.

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