Barry Faulkner's US Racing Preview

Two races from each from Tuesday regulars, Turf Paradise and Will Rogers Downs provide the action for my preview today - live on Sky Sports Racing.

Hopefully the analysis below will guide you to some profitable play but, whichever way you make your picks, good luck everyone! 

The Stateside Preview - Turf Paradise and Will Rogers Downs races for Tuesday 3rd March 2026

Will Rogers Downs 5 (9.08pm)

Maiden Claimer ($7,500) – Fillies and mares 3 year olds and upwards – Five and a half furlongs - Dirt

After showing little in her first three starts, when seriously overmatched at Keeneland, Churchill Downs, and Oaklawn Park, TIZZLIN (1) ran in one of these in the middle of January, going six furlongs. Although she was beaten 7¼ lengths into 3rd by the winning 1-2 favourite, she was only a length off the runner up spot in that race, and earned a speed figure within touching distance of the par for this modest grade. On the back of that, she was made 17-10 favourite at the same level, but upped in trip to a mile. Always in mid division, she finished 5th, beaten 12 lengths. Back to a more suitable trip here, she is not a write off for me. 

All four starts in the career of Maritude (2) so far have come at Oaklawn Park. She showed a little promise when finishing in the frame in a couple of Arkansas bred contest in March and April last year, but was unable to get competitive in a similar event sixteen days ago, nor an open $12,500 Maiden Claimer two months earlier. However, she has shown decent early pace in the context of this race and that is often a potent weapon at this lowly level.   

Pretty Irene (5) finished last of the six runners in a Maiden Special Weight in her sole start here a week ago. Like other in here, she had been overfaced in her three previous races and, although she is plunging in grade, she does noy interest me on what we have seen so far.  

Selection: TIZZLIN (1)

Turf Paradise 3 (9.15pm)

Claimer ($8,500) N3L – 3 year olds and upwards – Six furlongs – Dirt

On his first start here, having joined the barn of Robertino Diodoro, after competing at more prestigious tracks, CHASING RAIN (4), was sent off at 11-10 to win in this grade in January, one of two divisions run that day. He did not disappoint, reporting home by 6 lengths from Honor The Cat (5). Then, just over three weeks ago, he contested an entry level Allowance Optional Claimer, where he ran for the $15,000 tag. However, he found the upgrade too much, finishing 3rd, beaten 2 lengths. He should appreciate being back at this level. 

Prior to his run behind Chasing Rain (4), Honor The Cat (5) had won on his first start here, taking a Maiden Claimer with this tag by 4½ lengths. And, after it, won one of these in the middle of last month, getting up late going six furlongs to take that by a length. 

Kangaroo Coast (6) won the other division run at this level in January. Going off at 6-5, he ran down the pace in that race, but in a slower time than Chasing Rain (4) managed in his. He tried a mile four weeks later, but in an entry level Allowance Optional Claimer. However, the combination of trip and class upgrade proved way too much for him. 

Selection: CHASING RAIN (4)

Will Rogers Downs 6 (9.35pm)

Allowance N1X or N2L – Fillies and mares 3 year olds and upwards – Five and a half furlongs - Dirt

SHIP OF DREAMS (2) won an entry level Allowance for Oklahoma breds at Remington Park over this trip in October, leading all the way to beat four rivals by 2¼ lengths. Her next start came in mid-December in a second level Allowance for local lasses. Again, she took the field along, over 110 yards further, before getting nutted in the last strides, finishing a head 2nd to the 6-4 favourite. Her next start came here in a similar grade, over that trip seven weeks ago. She vied for the lead there before easing away in the stretch to score by 5½ lengths. It will be interesting to see how she gets on in open company, which is not always a straightforward assignment. However, she looks to have the best claims in this race. 

After failing to win as any of her ten races last year, Business As Usual (3) started 2026 with a bang. She had won just one of her twenty-two starts at that stage of her career but, dropped into a nonwinners of two $7,500 Claimer, over this course and distance in the middle of January, she thumped her ten rivals by 9¾ lengths and up as the 3-5 favourite. A week later, she added a nonwinners of two contest with the same tag, winning that by 10 lengths at 1-20 locally. Unfortunately, a fortnight after that, she could not complete the hat trick in a $7,500 Starter Allowance, finishing 4 lengths 3rd of five, burning the fingers of ‘money-buyers’ at 1-10. Compared with her two previous starts, she hardly raised a hoof there and could have been feeling the effects of two strong efforts. She has had a break of four weeks since.

In early December, So Jacksann (4) was a comfortable winner of an entry level State bred Allowance, going six and a half furlongs at Remington Park. leading all the way to score by 6¾ lengths. Eight day later, cut back by 110 yards she added a $20,000 Claimer, also Okie breds, winning that by 2 lengths, with Raspberry Martini (6) a length further back in 3rd. After a couple of months off, she returned to contest an open $30,000 Starter Allowance here, stepped up to a mile. She palpably didn’t stay there but should do better at this trip. However, where she is a class fit is another matter. 

Selection: SHIP OF DREAMS (2)

Turf Paradise 4 (9.45pm)

Claimer ($8,500) N2L – Fillies and mares 3 year olds and upwards – One mile - Turf

Mrazek’s Old Dream (7) has joined Robertino Diodoro and makes her first start here, after racing exclusively in California in her eighteen races so far. She has finished in the trifecta spots three times, one in each slot, with her sole victory coming in a $12,500 Maiden Claimer for locally bred females in June last year. She was last seen finishing 3rd in a $10,000 nonwinners of two Claimer at Santa Anita in early January. That form would make her class fit here but it came on dirt. However, five of her first six runs came on turf. Although she only managed to beat a grand total of six rivals in those races, it should be noted that they were all Maiden Special Weights and she earned speed figures comparable with her best dirt numbers.  

Caitlin Fever (8) switched to this track from the Golden State in the middle of November, winning a $30,000 Maiden Optional Claimer going seven and a half furlongs. She settled off the pace in that race, before running on strongly to take it by 3½ lengths. Two weeks later, she was made 7-5 favourite to follow up in an entry level Allowance Optional Claimer. She tracked the pace in that but was blocked when challenging early in the stretch, before keeping on to finish 3rd, beaten 2 lengths. Off for just over six weeks, she was 3-5 to win one of these but, after taking the lead on the home turn, she was nabbed late, finishing 2nd beaten a neck, with Coconut Dreams (5), who won one of these on her next start, 7½ lengths back in 5th. Caitlin Fever (8) was claimed out of that by a trainer who does not have many runners, but who bats at a good average. 

LADY LITHESOME (6) was well beaten by Mrazek’s Old Dreams (7) in January after getting roughed up at the start. However, that was on dirt and her turf ‘numbers’ are better than those posted by that lass. She won a Maiden Special Weight for California bred juveniles, way back in October 2023, but did not get back to the races until the beginning of June last year. She has run eight times since and has not looked like getting involved at the business end in any of those races, but she has never faced a group as modest as this one. Although she is not the easiest to settle, she may be the most talented in this field, and could prove the best, dropping significantly in class today. 

Selection: LADY LITHESOME (6)