Ricky’s Rockets ?: Churchill Downs, Del Mar, Gulfstream Park and Saratoga Picks for September 4, 2020

A massive day at Gulfstream Park the late Pick 4/5 and Rainbow 6 bring home $7,000. It was one of the best days for Ricky’s Rockets, and it comes just in time as we draw near the best weekend of the year. While the Kentucky Oaks will draw the headlines, this is the biggest day for New York-breds as well at Saratoga. Multiple stakes races for all ages, distances and surfaces on tap on this fantastic Friday.

Also included below: my 13-race preview of Churchill Downs, 9-race preview of Del Mar and 10-race preview of Gulfstream Park!

Best of luck!

Race 9: Allowance for New York-bred 3-year-olds and upward going 5 1/2 furlongs on the outer turf

#12 Inside Info has shown speed on the dirt in the past. He should be on the lead and the switch to turf is a move I’m interested in at a price. #13 Uncle George is a deep closer but never got going in his last start on July 11 at Belmont. He will be looking to Inside Info for a potential pace meltdown late in the stretch. 

Race 10: Fleet Indian Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) on the dirt

#3 Sharp Starr took four races to break his maiden for Horacio DePaz. After a competitive second at the allowance level, she moves up to this stakes event. DePaz is winning at 25% in stakes races in the last 365 days. #5 Critical Value made her return to the track in a big way in the Bouwerie Stakes last time out. She will look to make it to in a row and continue her winning ways.

Race 11: West Point Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-olds and upward going 1 1/16 miles (8 1/2 furlongs) on the inner turf

#1 Dot Matrix faced Sadler’s Joy and Cross Border in the Bowling Green Stakes (G2) last time out. For a horse near the lead, he did well to hold onto sixth losing by only four lengths. #4 Gucci Factor threw Junior Alvarado off in the Fort Marcy (G2) in his only race in 2020. He doesn’t have any history of the sort and it looks like a blip on the radar of a horse who is 8/17 lifetime.

Race 12: $40,000 Maiden Claiming for New York-bred 3-year-olds and upward going 5 1/2 furlongs on the outer turf

#4 Smite drops down in class for the first time for Jeremiah Englehart. Englehart is winning at 25% with runners making the move from Maiden Special Weight to Maiden Claiming competition in the last 365 days. #9 Fluent in Sarcasm should be on the lead for Mike Maker. Irad Ortiz Jr. did a masterful job last time out getting him to the front but he failed to hold on. The two have teamed up to win at 25% in the last 365 days.

THE TICKET

$5 Pick 4 (Races 9-12) 12,13 / 3,5 / 1,4 / 4 – $40

Saratoga September 4, 2020

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Ricky’s Rockets: Saratoga

Ricky’s Rockets: Churchill Downs

Ricky’s Rockets: Del Mar

Ricky’s Rockets: Gulfstream Park