Ricky’s Rockets ?: Aqueduct, Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita Park Picks for January 18, 2021

It was another strong Sunday for Ricky’s Rockets?! We’ve had some great days as of late, and due to the holiday, we have some special Monday cards from Aqueduct and Santa Anita as well. Catch all of the action right here!

Also included below: my 9-race preview of Santa Anita.

Best of luck!

Aqueduct January 18, 2021

Race 5: $8,000 Claiming for 4-year-olds and upward going 1 mile (8 furlongs) on the dirt

I absolutely hate this race and don’t really like any of them. #1 Playwright is only coupled with #1A Successful Saint due to the rider situation. Bettors won’t receive double the value if that bet on Playwright in this spot, as he’s clearly the better horse. #3 Scarf It Down can’t be trusted to run a good race whatsoever. Two starts back, he closed into a really slow pace which was impressive. In his most recent start, he had a relatively quick pace to close into, and he was awful. Good luck trying to predict his performance here, even though his speed figures stand out on paper.

Race 6: $62,500 Allowance Optional Claiming for 4-year-olds and upward going 6 furlongs on the dirt 

#6 Mi Tres Por Ciento comes off one of his better performances as of late. It does look like an anomaly on paper, but he beat #8 Chateau and Cost Basis already last time out. #8 Chateau fell victim to the early fractions he set early on last time out. He wants to be on the lead, but it’s all about the first quarter, and if he can slow it down early on. 

Race 7: Interborough Stakes for fillies and mares 4-year-olds and upward going 7 furlongs on the dirt

#1 Needs Supervision is an outlier in the sense, he has very little Aqueduct experience, but he has gone 7 furlongs on multiple occasions. In his 4 starts at this distance, he’s won 2 of them. #6 Portal Creek will cut back in distance after traveling 8 furlongs in his last two races. This pace might be a little quicker than expected, since many of the other runners can’t afford to let Portal Creek to run alone on the front end.

Race 8: $25,000 Maiden Claiming for New York-bred for fillies and mares 4-year-olds and upward going 6 furlongs on the dirt

#1 Remoane and #1A Sophie Fatale come into this spot as a coupled entry. I prefer Remoane as she makes her second start off of the long layoff. Her running mate doesn’t have a prayer in this spot. #8 Hey It’s Tati drops in class once again for Tom Albertrani, who’s winning at 25% at the meet. At a similar level in her debut, she finished second by a 1/2 length last June.

THE TICKET

$3 Pick 4 (Races 5-8) 1-1A,3 / 6,8 / 1,6 / 1-1A,8 – $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: Santa Anita