Ricky’s Rockets 🚀: Belmont Park, Churchill Downs and Gulfstream Park Picks for September 18, 2021

Ricky’s Rockets 🚀 is ready for a HUGE Saturday across the horse racing landscape! Between Belmont Park, Churchill Downs and Gulfstream Park, we have 10 stakes races on tap. In particular, Churchill Downs has three graded-stakes races, and five stakes races alone. The action doesn’t stop, and we are here for it.

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

Belmont Park September 18, 2021

Race 8: Allowance for New York-bred fillies and mares 3-year-olds and upward going 6 furlongs on the dirt

#3 Beautiful Karen will look to use her early speed out of the gate to give her a leg up over this field. She’s as consistent at this level as they come. #10 Snicket hasn’t won a race this year, but the majority of her races have been on the grass. I ultimately think the dirt is her better surface at the end of the day.

Race 9: Jockey Club Oaks Invitational Stakes for 3-year-old fillies going 1 3/8 miles (11 furlongs) on the inner turf

#1 Creative Flair made a big statement in the Saratoga Oaks (G3) last month for Charlie Appleby. She will look to pass #2 Higher Truth, who finished second in that race. This is an extremely talented group, but these two have proven they can run well in this type of race.

Race 10: Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes for 3-year-olds going 1 1/2 miles (12 furlongs) on the widener turf

#4 Solider Rising made his United States debut in the Saratoga Derby (G1) back in August, losing out to State of Rest. Another runner he will have to fend off, is #8 Bolshoi Ballet, who’s running in the U.S. for the third time. He won the Belmont Derby (G1) back in July, but was poor in the Saratoga Derby. 

Race 11: Starter Allowance for 3-year-olds and upward going 6 furlongs on the dirt

#2 Colormepazzi has had the most success over this track, finishing in the money in 2/3 starts for Chris Englehart. Eric Cancel was aboard the last time he won a race. #3 Advance Notice has been extremely consistent as well in his career, finishing in the money in 8/11 races. Manny Franco picks up the mount, who hasn’t been aboard since February.

THE TICKET

$3 Pick 4 (Races 8-11) 3,10 / 1,2 / 4,8 / 2,3 – $48

50¢ Pick 4 (Races 8-11) 2,3,10 / 1,2,6,7 / 2,4,8 / 2,3,6 – $54

My product is now on the Handicapping Products Page! To purchase, click one of the links below to go to the products page. My product includes full card plays, featuring race-by-race analysis, my top four picks for each race, and full-card multi-race wagers. Check it out below:

Ricky’s Rockets: Belmont Park

Ricky’s Rockets: Churchill Downs

Ricky’s Rockets: Gulfstream Park