Timeform US SmartPlays: Thursday December 18

Timeform
18 December 2014

Timeform's US team pick out the best bets on Thursday

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Timeform's US team find their three best bets of the day at Hawthorne.

"The eighth race at Hawthorne (22:25 GMT) is an open-looking $5k claimer, with at least five of the eight-strong field possessing decent chances on Timeform form ratings."

The third race at Hawthorne (19:55 GMT), a six-and-a-half furlong, $8k dirt claimer, can fall the way of Appltatacorntamata, who has been showing decent form at a slightly higher level of late. This versatile five-year-old has form on a variety of surfaces, having recorded wins on dirt and turf, as well as putting up creditable efforts on polytrack. His last outing on the Hawthorne dirt resulted in a narrow defeat, and a reproduction of that will see Appltatacorntamata go very close here.

Dancing Dove needs to rebound from a poor run last time, but that was over a distance that probably stretches her, and the drop back from an extended mile to six furlongs looks much more in her favour in race 5 at Hawthorne (20:55 GMT). Dancing Dove also takes a significant class-drop from $25k claiming level into this $12k contest and that should be enough for this filly to record her second career success.

The eighth race at Hawthorne (22:25 GMT) is an open-looking $5k claimer, with at least five of the eight-strong field possessing decent chances on Timeform form ratings. With that in mind, a lay of the Morning Line favourite Lethal is probably the way to go. His form is no better than several of his rivals in this particular contest, and he has a bit to find with one or two on TimeformUS speed figures, also.

Timeform US SmartPlays

Hawthorne race 3 (19:55 GMT) win back #1 APPLTATACORNTAMATA at 4.57/2 or longer
Hawthorne race 5 (20:55 GMT) win back #2 DANCING DOVE at 3.814/5 or longer
Hawthorne race 8 (22:25 GMT) win lay #4 LETHAL at 4.57/2 or shorter