Ricky’s Rockets 🚀: Belmont Park, Churchill Downs and Oaklawn Park Picks for April 29, 2021

#RickysRockets🚀 are ready to go for arguably the biggest week of the year! The Kentucky Derby post positions have been drawn, morning-line odds have been made, and horses are at the track. IT’S TIME TO GET THE BALL ROLLING! We have action all across the country on Thursday afternoon, as an appetizer to the great racing that will be happening in a couple of days. Let’s build the bankroll and get ready for the weekend!

Also included below: my 9-race preview of Belmont Park, 11-race preview of Churchill Downs, 9-race preview of Oaklawn Park!

Best of luck!

Churchill Downs April 29, 2021

Race 8: Opening Verse Overnight Stakes for 4-year-olds and upward going 1 mile (8 furlongs) on the turf

#2 Sayaaf has gotten to the point whether he will ever win a stakes race or not. Now at this distance, he’s undefeated and maybe going longer distances is what he needs to break the curse. #5 Set Piece is a true miler, having won 5/8 races going 8 furlongs. His problem is he’s only won one race on the turf. This is one of the more wide open races in quite some time.

Race 9: Allowance for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and upward going 6 furlongs on the dirt

#1 Primacy hasn’t been seen since last summer, but she was on the cusp of having a nice campaign. She must’ve had some fitness issues, that forced her not to race in quite some time. She has the talent and connections to win a relatively weak Allowance race. #2 Break Curfew shouldn’t be 6/1 at post time and if she is, she will provide a ton of value. Two starts back, she finished second at Oaklawn Park in a very similar situation. She has the chance upset Primacy if she’s not ready to run. 

Race 10: Unbridled Sidney Stakes for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and upward going 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf

#4 Oleksandra hasn’t won a race since the Jaipur Stakes (G1) last year at Belmont, but this is the perfect spot for her. She will probably be last early on, but she has a finishing kick on the turf like no one else. #8 She’sonthewarpath makes her 2021 debut, after not having run since the Gallorette Stakes (G3) last year at Pimlico. She is one of the long shots I like on the card. 

Race 11: $30,000 Maiden Claiming for 3-year-olds and upward going 7 furlongs on the dirt

#4 No Obligation should be able to show his early speed like he has shown in his most recent races. He’s only been on the dirt once in his career, and that was at Turfway Park at the beginning of the year. This is the second time he’s dropping in for a tag as well. #7 Gold Endeavor drops in class in a big way, after limited success against Maiden Special Weight competition. His pedigree suggests he belongs on the turf, but his results would disagree with that sentiment.

THE TICKET

$3 Pick 4 (Races 8-11) 2,5 / 1,2 / 4,8 / 4,7 – $48

50¢ Pick 4 (8-11) 1,2,4,5,7,9 / 1,2 / 1,2,4,8,9 / 4,7 – $60

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: Oaklawn Park