Ricky’s Rockets 🚀: Belmont Park, Churchill Downs and Gulfstream Park Picks for May 20, 2021

#RickysRockets🚀 continues to cash tickets each and every week. We were able to cash the middle Pick 4 for $1,932.15, and the middle Pick 5 for $18,664.75 at Churchill Downs last Saturday! It was the biggest score in the history of #RickysRockets🚀 as well! The Preakness was a success as well, but now it’s time to move toward the final leg of the Triple Crown, and that’s the Belmont Stakes in early June. On Thursday afternoon, it’s time to start the week anew, and pick up right where we left off.

Also included below: my 9-race preview of Belmont Park, 8-race preview of Churchill Downs, 8-race preview of Gulfstream Park!

Best of luck!

Belmont Park May 20, 2021

Race 6: Maiden Special Weight for 3-year-olds and upward going 6 furlongs on the inner turf

#1 After Five has more turf sprint stakes under his belt than he does wins on his resume. In every race other than the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G2), he’s finished second. He has no excuse to lose here considering the fields he’s faced in the past. #7 Digital Future was pretty terrible on debut, but we have to cut him some slack. It was an incredibly tough task for him to run over a sloppy track as a 2-year-old on debut. Irad Ortiz Jr. was aboard on that day, but I have to assume he’s going to be better here.

Race 7: $80,000 Allowance Optional Claiming for 3-year-old fillies going 1 mile (8 furlongs) on the dirt

#2 Always Carina was one of the visually more impressive debutants at Aqueduct over the past few months. Chad Brown is slowly progressing his filly along, but she will be in a stakes race next time out if she wins in this spot. #5 Malibu Curl is coming off of a loss to Malathaat who just won the Kentucky Oaks (G1) earlier this month. There’s no shame in losing to the best 3-year-old filly in the country.

Race 8: $80,000 Allowance Optional Claiming for 3-year-olds and upward going 6 furlongs on the widener turf

#4 Battle Station is looking for his first win since the Lucky Coin Stakes last year at Saratoga. In two starts at this level since then, he’s finished second and third at this level. #6 Quarky just got the better of Battle Station when these two faced each other last month. Luis Saez was aboard in the last race he won to cap off his 2020 campaign. 

Race 9: Maiden Special Weight for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and upward going 1 1/4 miles (10 furlongs) on the inner turf

#4 Community Adjusted has been able to finish fourth in three straight races, which is pretty unimaginable to think. Manny Franco will try to get this filly going 10 furlongs for the second straight race. #5 Coalition Building finished third in the same race Community Adjusted is coming out of. For these two fillies, we know they have the ability to go the distance given the pedigree.

THE TICKET

$3 Pick 4 (Races 6-9) 1,7 / 2,5 / 4,6 / 4,5 – $48

50¢ Pick 4 (Races 6-9)   1,7 / 2,4,5 / 3,4,6,8 / 4,5,8  – $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: Belmont Park

Ricky’s Rockets: Churchill Downs

Ricky’s Rockets: Gulfstream Park