Ricky’s Rockets 🚀: Belmont Park, Churchill Downs, Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita Picks for October 1, 2021

Ricky’s Rockets 🚀 welcomes a brand new track in October! Santa Anita is back in the fold, and the card is massive. There are four stakes races on the card, and three of them are graded-stakes events. It’s bound to be a great month of racing, as we continue the countdown to the Breeders’ Cup!

Also included below: my 9-race preview of Belmont Park, 10-race preview of Churchill Downs, 9-race preview of Gulfstream Park and 9-race preview of Santa Anita!

Belmont Park October 1, 2021

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

#1 Harper’s in Charge looked good in her first race on the grass on September 4. She will be traveling the furthest distance she ever has, but her pedigree suggests she can handle it. #4 Love and Thunder has finished second in all of her races in the United States. Let’s see if this sprint distance suits her a little bit better, as opposed to her two turn races.

Race 7: $80,000 Allowance Optional Claiming for 3-year-olds and upward going 6 furlongs on the dirt

#2 Always Sunshine returns to New York, after running at Delaware and Parx. Let’s see if his winning streak stays alive, as he moves up in class. #5 Answer In couldn’t make it two in a row, after a poor performance at Saratoga. He seems to run well every other race, so by that logic, he needs to be considered here.

Race 8: John Hettinger Stakes for New York-bred fillies and mares 3-year-olds and upward going 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) on the inner turf

#1 Pecatonica may not be as talented as the rest of this group, but she does possess early speed. That should help, in a race usually won on the front end. #8 Myhartblongstodady looks for her first win of the year, after finishing second in the Yaddo Stakes. Jose Lezcano was aboard in her final race back in 2020.

Race 9: Maiden Special Weight for New York-bred 3-year-olds and upward going 7 furlongs on the widener turf

#5 War Smoke stretches-out to 7 furlongs after two races going 5 1/2 furlongs on the grass. He disappointed as a heavy 4/5 favorite last time out. #8 Citizen K ran his best race on the turf last time out, which also happened to be his first race of the year. Jose Ortiz hasn’t been aboard since his debut on the main track in August 2020.

THE TICKET

$3 Pick 4 (Races 6-9) 1,4 / 2,5 / 1,8 / 5,8 – $48

50¢ Pick 4 (Races 6-9) 1,4,7,9 / 1,2,4,5,7 / 1,8 / 5,7,8 – $60

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

Ricky’s Rockets: Santa Anita Park