US Racing / Simon Rowlands / 20 May 2010 /

It's a case of "never mind the quality, feel the width" in the US at the weekend, with a plethora of meetings and betting opportunities but only a smattering of big races, writes Simon Rowlands.

Pride of place on Saturday goes to the Sheepshead Stakes at Belmont (race 9, 5:17 pm local time, 10:17 GMT), a $150,000 Grade 2 for fillies and mares over 11 furlongs. In the field of eight is Treat Gently, who finished third to Zarkava and Dar Re Mi in the Prix Vermeille at Longchamp in 2008 but who has won only one of five races in the US. The Brazilian-bred Bubbly Jane could be her biggest rival if straight after more than six months off.

Churchill Downs stages the Grade 3 Louisville Handicap (race 10, 5:29 local time, 10:29 GMT), in which Brass Hat is the Morning Line favourite but Telling looks every bit as strong on the form he was showing last year. He had Brass Hat back in third when winning the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes at this mile-and-a-half distance at Saratoga in August.

The Lazaro Barrera Stakes at Hollywood Park (race 8, 4:35 local time, 12:35 GMT) honours the Cuban-born trainer of Bold Forbes and the great Affirmed, and also has Grade 3 status. Smiling Tiger twice finished third to Lookin At Lucky at two years, seeming to stay this seven furlongs, and was not discredited on his recent return.

The American 1000 Guineas at Arlington Park (race 9, 5:14 local time, 11:14 GMT) is not graded, but it is worth $200,000 and has attracted a decent field for its third running, including the ex-French Kilmore Quay (making her Stateside debut) and the ex-Canadian Bay To Bay, both of them useful. The latter should not have to run much better than when a gaining second in the Appalachian Stakes at Keeneland to prevail.

There is a quartet of $100,000 races at Louisiana Downs, including the Louisiana Cup Oaks (race 6, 3:55 local time, 9:55 GMT) and the Louisiana Cup Derby (race 8, 4:55 local time, 10:55 GMT). Aunt Kat Kat and Jays Wildcat hold good chances respectively on Timeform ratings but need to prove themselves at as far as this seven furlongs.

In other news, Super Saver and Lookin At Lucky, winners of the first two legs of the Triple Crown, are likely to miss the third leg at Belmont on June 5, while 133-rated Quality Road is likely to take in the $500,000 Metropolitan Handicap at the course on May 31.

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