US racing tips: Tom Collins has three fancies on a glittering Saratoga card

Jackie's Warrior
9.12 Saratoga
2pts win

Harvey's Lil Goil
9.47 Saratoga
1pt each-way

Gufo
10.25 Saratoga
2pts win

Three-time Grade 1-winner Essential Quality looks hard to beat as he seeks an eighth victory from nine races in the featured $1.25million Runhappy Travers Stakes (11.12) at Saratoga.

The imposing grey will appreciate the step up to 1m2f and holds all his six rivals on form, but he'll be skinny odds for his Breeders' Cup prep and should be a combination-bet option only.

Better punting opportunities come earlier on the Saratoga card. Jackie's Warrior should be the right side of even money in the Grade 1 H Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (9.12) for record-breaking trainer Steve Asmussen.

A double winner at the top level and unbeaten in three starts at the Spa, Jackie's Warrior set blistering fractions in the Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes on a wet track at the beginning of the month and galloped his rivals into submission.

A similar display should see him fend off one-time Kentucky Derby favourite Life Is Good, who returns from an enforced absence.

Letruska will be favoured for the Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes (9.47), and rightly so given her dominant display in the Fleur De Lis last time up.

However, the value lies with Harvey's Lil Goil, who mixes turf and dirt but remains unexposed for the shrewd Bill Mott barn and wasn't beaten far by the reopposing Swiss Skydiver in the Alabama Stakes on the Saratoga main track last summer. A minor pace collapse brings her into the equation.

Look no further than the deep-closing Gufo in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Stakes (10.25). Channel Maker is sure to take the field along at a good gallop, which will suit this four-year-old colt, who has never finished outside the top three in 11 races and has push-button acceleration.

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