Ricky’s Rockets 🚀: Gulfstream Park, Keeneland and Oaklawn Park Picks for April 16, 2021

Ricky’s Rockets🚀 kicked off a brand new week of racing in style cashing a Pick 4 and Pick 5 ticket at Oaklawn Park! This marks the second straight day of cashing tickets, and we are looking to make it three! Let’s try to make it two days in a row, as we look to repeat Thursday afternoon’s success. We head back to Gulfstream, Keeneland and Oaklawn on Friday afternoon, highlighted by the Baird Doubledogdare Stakes (G3) on the back half of the card in Lexington, Kentucky.

Also included below: my 9-race preview of Gulfstream Park, 10-race preview of Keeneland, 10-race preview of Oaklawn Park!

Best of luck!

Keeneland April 16, 2021

Race 7: Allowance for 3-year-olds going 6 furlongs on the dirt

#5 Therideofalifetime was the talk of the town heading into the Iroquois Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs last year, but he never lived up to his 4/5 odds on that day. This will be the first time we will see him in 2021, in what hopes to be a great campaign as a three year old. #8 Shackleford Strong faced winners for the first time last time out, and he was about as advertised. He could be competitive enough to compete in this spot, but will need to get a little bit better to win.

Race 8: Allowance for fillies and mares 4-year-olds and upward going 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf

#6 Senora Roma hasn’t been on the track in almost a year, and she will attempt the turf for the first time as well. She was entered for the turf in her final start in 2020, but stayed on the main track after the conditions took the race off of the grass. #10 Lexintonia made her return to the track on March 21 after not having run since September 2019. She looked a little rusty, but she proved to be a quality runner on the grass, the same surface she will run over here.

Race 9: Baird Doubledogdare Stakes (G3) for fillies and mares 4-year-olds and upward going 1 1/16 miles (8 1/2 furlongs) on the dirt

#4 Eres Tu has finished first or second in every race in two calendar years. The last time she finished outside of the top two, was in the Florida Oaks (G2) as a three year old back in 2019. #6 Speech looks like the overwhelming favorite on paper. She’s clearly the most talented runner in the race, and finds a lot of class relief given who she’s faced in the past.

Race 10: Maiden Special Weight for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles (8 1/2 furlongs) on the turf

#3 Mubtadaa stated competitive the entire way on debut, but the pedigree suggested this colt will want to go more than 5 furlongs. It didn’t take Todd Pletcher long to notice that either, as he gives his youngster a chance to travel two turns. #6 Scarlet Fusion tries the turf for the first time, which is a very interesting move. He has plenty of early speed, and that should play well on the grass, in what looks like a relatively slow race on paper. He will look to take this field the whole way.

THE TICKET

$3 Pick 4 (Races 7-10) 5,8 / 6,10 / 4,6 / 3,6 – $48

50¢ Pick 4 (7-10)  5,8 / 6,7,8,10 / 1,4,6 / 3,6,7 – $36

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: Gulfstream Park

Ricky’s Rockets: Keeneland

Ricky’s Rockets: Oaklawn Park