US racing tips: Shane Ketteridge with his two best Saturday bets

Mo Donegal
9.45pm Aqueduct
2pts win

Commandperformance
10.10pm Keeneland
1pt each-way

This is a pivotal weekend Stateside with key trials taking place around the country in the hunt for late qualification points to grab a spot in the Kentucky Derby next month.

Todd Pletcher’s Charge It ran a promising trial when finishing second behind White Abarrio in the Florida Derby last week but the feeling is that the New York-based handler is sending out two of his trump cards on Saturday in the shape of Mo Donegal and Commandperformance.

Mo Donegal lines up in the $750,000 Grade 2 Wood Memorial Stakes over 1m1f at Aqueduct. Pletcher has won this six times since 2010 and Mo Donegal is already a course-and-distance winner, having landed the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes as a two-year-old last December.

He comes here off the back of an eyecatching third in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park in February.

He was in a position to strike coming into the turn but was caught for room at a vital moment before finishing strongly. The two who finished in front of him, White Abarrio (who gives a formline with Charge It) and Simplification, just got first run.

That was a good run over 1m½f and, with this step back up in trip sure to suit, this tough performer should run a big race.

As with Mo Donegal, Commandperformance needs to finish in the top two in order to gain the necessary points to qualify for the Kentucky Derby and he looks ready to put in a big effort in the $1m Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.

Amazingly, this colt is still a maiden after four races and the way he was beaten in a maiden special weight at short odds last time might lead you to believe he won’t be winning a Grade 1 anytime soon.

However, he was Grade 1-placed as a two-year-old and he’s a big colt, so he would have needed that first run back. He's the type who will run better against higher-level opposition.

Recent workouts have been strong and connections look set to revert to the hold-up tactics that saw him run so well in top races last season. If they do, he is another Pletcher contender who can lay down a marker for next month.

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