Ricky’s Rockets ?: Belmont Park, Keeneland, and Santa Anita Park Picks for October 9, 2020

What a great day for Ricky’s Rockets on Thursday afternoon at Keeneland. The early Pick 4 cashes for $512 and early Pick 5 cashes for $1,504! Let’s see if we can make it two days in a row! We are also just one day away from four Win and You’re In races at Belmont Park, all of which have major implications toward Breeders’ Cup weekend as well. A big day is on tap for Saturday afternoon, but there are ten races in Friday’s program that are must see TV.

Also included below: my 10-race preview of Keeneland and 9-race preview of Santa Anita.

Best of luck!

Race 7: Allowance for New York-bred 3-year-olds and upward going 1 1/16 miles (8 1/2 furlongs) on the widener turf

#4 Good Old Boy has gotten better and better under Mike Maker this year, a completely different runner than earlier in his career. #11 Microsecond has never finished worse than third in his career and looks to claim his second win in her career. He makes the most sense in this group and there aren’t many reasons to think he won’t get the job done.

Race 8: Allowance for 3-year-olds and upward going 1 1/16 miles (8 1/2 furlongs) on the dirt

#2 Heirloom Kitten has been on a roll since breaking his maiden three starts back. He should continue to show speed and run a quality race for Linda Rice who’s winning at 17% at the meet. #3 Adare ships to New York for the time after running all four of his starts in California. Neil Drysdale and Joel Rosario are winning at 37% as a jockey/trainer tandem in the last 365 days.

Race 9: $62,500 Allowance Optional Claiming for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and upward going 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) on the inner turf

#1 Bramble Queen ran at this level last September and finished a disappointing fifth. She is in her best form as of late, and gets Jose Lezcano back aboard, who rode her last year here at Belmont. #3 Sorrentina Lemon has never finished second by more than a length in her career. She returned to the races at this level at Kentucky Downs on September 10, where she finished second by a nose, in her first start in over nine months.

Race 10: $30,000 Claiming for 3-year-olds and upward going 6 furlongs on the widener turf

#1 Hard Count has run at similar levels in Florida this year, but will make his way north for the first time since last year. This will be the toughest test of his career since he broke his maiden. He has nine second-place finishes in twenty career starts. #3 Crack Shot always finds himself in the mix down the stretch, but he has a tendency to falter late. If he can deploy the same front-running tactics he’s used at the Allowance levels, he will be tough to catch as he drops in for a tag for the first time in his career.

THE TICKET

$3 Pick 4 (Races 6-9) 4,11 / 2,3 / 1,3 / 1,3 – $48

Belmont Park October 9, 2020

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Ricky’s Rockets: Belmont Park

Ricky’s Rockets: Keeneland

Ricky’s Rockets: Santa Anita Park