Ricky’s Rockets 🚀: Belmont Park, Churchill Downs and Gulfstream Park Picks for September 23, 2021

Ricky’s Rockets 🚀 is back for a brand new week, starting on Thursday afternoon! We have live action from Belmont Park, Churchill Downs and Gulfstream Park in what hopes to be a fantastic week of racing. Let’s get after it, and start the momentum!

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

Belmont Park September 23, 2021

Race 6: Starter Allowance for 3-year-olds and upward going 7 furlongs on the widener turf

#2 Bar Fourteen really didn’t run a good race at this level last time out. There really aren’t any excuses either, but I do think he’s talented enough to bounce back, given his consistent efforts in the past. #4 Restored Order makes his first start for James Lawrence, who owns and trains. It’s always tough to claim and run well off of Todd Pletcher.

Race 7: Maiden Special Weight for New York-bred 3-year-olds and upward going 1 mile (8 furlongs) on the dirt

#3 V Pattern made his debut over this track last October, but it didn’t go so well. This will be his second start off of the layoff for Horacio DePaz. #4 Got the Gold looked much better once Chris Englehart got his hands on him. He lost to Gold Panda, who won at the Allowance level in his subsequent start.

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

#10 Social Whirl comes into this one having won two in a row for Tom Morley. Javier Castellano has been aboard for both of the wins, as she looks for three in a row. #12 Get the Candy will be the horse to beat, after running second at this level at Saratoga. The post position doesn’t help, but she deserves to be one of the main contenders.

Race 9: $40,000 Claiming for 3-year-olds and upward going 7 furlongs on the widener turf

#2 Bardolino likes to be on the lead, but he never got the chance to do that in his final start for Jimmy Bond. He broke slowly out of the gate, and fell behind too far to make up any ground. #8 More Like It hasn’t done all that well here at Belmont in the past. His last race for Ray Handal looked good enough to compete with this group on this day.

THE TICKET

$3 Pick 4 (Races 6-9) 2,4 / 3,4 / 10,12 / 2,8 – $48

50¢ Pick 4 (Races 6-9)  2,4,6 / 3,4 / 10,11,12 / 1,2,8,10 – $36

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