Ricky’s Rockets ?: Aqueduct, Gulfstream Park and Los Alamitos Picks for December 18, 2020

Ricky’s Rockets? started the week off right with multiple winning tickets at Gulfstream Park and Los Alamitos on Thursday afternoon. Aqueduct was cancelled due to a 12” of snow, but racing in New York is back on Friday afternoon.

Also included below: my 10-race preview of Gulfstream Park and 9-race preview of Los Alamitos.

Best of luck!

Race 6: Maiden Special Weight for New York-bred fillies and mares 3-year-olds and upward going 7 furlongs on the dirt

#2 Beautiful Karen ran her best race here last time out on November 21 going 6 furlongs. She has gone a mile in the past but her best races have been sprinting. #3 Munnings Muse had the step on Beautiful Karen when they both ran on November 21, but she faltered after being put to a drive early on. These two stand out on paper and deserve to be the favorites.

Race 7: $16,000 Claiming for 3-year-olds and upward going 6 furlongs on the dirt

#1 Shandian was able to draw Joel Rosario in his last start which is an angle that’s important to look for in these low-level claiming events. The horses with better riders tend to be more consistent and are better than their PP’s indicate. #4 Principal Dancer is as consistent as they come. He’s run at his level in three straight races, finishing second or third in all of them. He figures to be prominent again as they make their way towards the wire.

Race 8: Allowance for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and upward going 1 mile (8 furlongs) on the dirt

#2 Am Impazible hasn’t lost since she broke her maiden last year. It’s concerning she hasn’t been able to consistently run in the afternoons, but her talent jumps off of the page. #7 South of the Shore also makes her return off of a long layoff. Not having run since August 2019, she will look to make her return a winning one. The last time she was off this long, she broke her maiden in March 2019.

Race 9: Maiden Special Weight for New York-bred 2-year-olds going 1 mile (8 furlongs) on the dirt

#2 Ruse has shown consistent progression in his starts, but he will look to capture his first win on the dirt as opposed to the turf, where his first three races took place. #6 Brew Pub has shown he can be competitive on both surfaces, but in two dirt starts, he’s finished second and third at Belmont and Indiana Grand respectively.

THE TICKET

$3 Pick 4 (Races 6-9) 2,3 / 1,4 / 2,7 / 2,6 – $48

Aqueduct December 18, 2020

For my full card plays, featuring race-by-race analysis, my top four picks for each race, and full-card multi-race wagers, check out my product below:

Ricky’s Rockets: Aqueduct

Ricky’s Rockets: Gulfstream Park

Ricky’s Rockets: Los Alamitos