Ricky’s Rockets 🚀: Belmont Park, Churchill Downs and Gulfstream Park Picks for May 8, 2021

#RickysRockets🚀 was able to cash tickets for the second straight day! We have been red-hot to kick off the month and we are trying to extend it to three winning days in a row. Preakness Day is one week away, so it’s time to keep building the excitement and momentum! Between Belmont Park, Churchill Downs and Gulfstream Park, there are seven stakes races on tap.

Also included below: my 11-race preview of Belmont Park, 11-race preview of Churchill Downs, 12-race preview of Gulfstream Park!

Best of luck!

Belmont Park May 8, 2021

Race 8: Maiden Special Weight for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and upward going 1 1/16 miles (8 1/2 furlongs) on the widener turf

#8 Palamos will try to win her first race as a four year old, after not having run since last November. Graham Motion and the connections should be excited about this filly, given her progression from her first start to her second start. #9 Flaming Rouge makes her United States debut after beginning her career in France. For what it’s worth, she’s faced winners before prior to her breaking her maiden.

Race 9: Peter Pan Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) on the dirt

#3 Promise Keeper quickly put his Tampa Bay Derby (G2) behind him with a dominant victory against Allowance Optional Claimers at Keeneland. This should be a good test for him as he looks too tiring back-to-back wins together for the first time in his career. #4 Wolfie’s Dynaghost shocked the tote-board last year at close to 34/1 at Aqueduct. Based on that dominant performance, there’s no way he is forgotten about in this race.

Race 10: Man o’War Stakes (G1) for 4-year-olds and upward going 1 3/8 miles (11 furlongs) on the inner turf

#1 Soverign comes into this race as a complete unknown, as he makes his first start in the country. What we do know is some of the competition he’s faced in the past, including Enable. Enable is arguably one of the best European turf runners ever. #7 Field Pass ran well in his 2021 debut in the Makers Mark Mile Stakes (G1) at Keeneland. There’s no Raging Bull or Ride a Comet in this field to contend with.

Race 11: Maiden Special Weight for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and upward going 1 1/16 miles (8 1/2 furlongs) on the widener turf

#6 Gabby Squared has gotten better and better under Chad Brown, essentially the kind of progression bettors will want to see in this race. Javier Castellano gets the mount for Chad Brown in this one. #9 Third Draft has tried a multitude of different tracks, but returns to the track where he made his debut last October. If she was able to show any sort of speed out of the gate, it wouldn’t be impossible for her to close. She’s got to pass a majority of the runners in the stretch.

THE TICKET

$3 Pick 4 (Races 8-11) 8,9 / 3,4 / 1,7 / 6,9 – $48

50¢ Pick 4 (Races 8-11)   8,9,10 / 3,4 / 1,3,7,8 / 1,2,6,9 – $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: Belmont Park

Ricky’s Rockets: Churchill Downs

Ricky’s Rockets: Gulfstream Park