Ricky’s Rockets ?: Aqueduct, Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita Park Picks for January 15, 2021

Ricky’s Rockets? continues to roll across the county! After cashing some big tickets from Gulfstream and the Fair Grounds on Thursday, we roll into a Friday afternoon packed with excitement. YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS!

Also included below: my 10-race preview of Gulfstream Park and 8-race preview of Santa Anita.

Best of luck!

Aqueduct January 15, 2021

Race 5: $14,000 Claiming for fillies and mares 4-year-olds and upward going 7 furlongs on the dirt

#1 Jackie Milton has Aqueduct experience and has won a race here at the big A. She was impressive last time out going 8 furlongs and shocked the tote board at close to 38/1. She will look to make it three in a row for Wayne Potts. #3 La Negrita continues to finish in the money regardless of the circumstances, but she does still have an issue finishing second too many times. She’s a must use, but I’m not sure if she will win two races in a row.

Race 6: $25,000 Claiming for 4-year-olds and upward going 1 mile (8 furlongs) on the dirt

#1 Heirloom Kitten isn’t in the same form he once was, but looking at his recent races does provide some relief as he enters his 2021 debut. The allowance races he was in are simply much better than what this field has to offer. #5 Road to Meath has some muddied up form literally and figuratively. If we take out his races on a muddy and yielding track, his running lines look much better. Those aren’t excuses but he’s never run well with moisture in the track.

Race 7: $62,500 Allowance Optional Claiming for 4-year-olds and upward going 1 mile (8 furlongs) on the dirt

#5 Montaulk Traffic has been awful recently but this race has the potential to heat up quickly early on. If it does, he’s a price that could storm home late. #6 High Velocity is still searching for the form he once had in California. Hopefully as a 4-year-old, he can get back to that form he held in 2019.

Race 8: $40,000 Maiden Claiming for New York-bred 3-year-olds going 6 furlongs on the dirt

#5 Sonic Speed got better as 2020 progressed, but was never able to find his winning stride. One of his best races came on a muddy track here at Aqueduct over the fall. Let’s see if getting Lasix for the first time helps him get out of the gate a little bit better. #6 What’s My Category has done well here at Aqueduct. Unfortunately both of those races resulted in second place finishes for the Carlos Martin trainee. This is where he belongs however to get his maiden broken.

THE TICKET

$3 Pick 4 (Races 5-8) 1,3 / 1,5 / 5,6 / 5,6 – $48

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: Santa Anita