Ricky’s Rockets 🚀: Del Mar and Saratoga Picks for August 29, 2021

WHAT A DAY AT THE SPA!! All the stars came out and shined, as they proved to everyone just how talented they really are. Ricky’s Rockets 🚀 cashed tickets all over the place at Saratoga (even though it was extremely chalky), while enjoying the mid-summer derby to it’s core. The build up and the expectations certainly lived up to the type in the 152nd running of the Travers Stakes (G1).

Also included below: my 10-race preview of Del Mar, and 10-race preview of Saratoga!

Saratoga August 29, 2021

Race 7: Starter Allowance for 3-year-olds and upward going 5 1/2 furlongs on the Melon turf

#1 Air Show makes his first start for Bruce Brown after running the majority of his races for Tom Amoss this year. Joel Rosario gets the call, as he moves up in class. #10 Elusive Edge faces winners for the first time in his career, after breaking his maiden last time out. He looked like a completely different runner on the turf for the first time.

Race 8: $80,000 Allowance Optional Claiming for 3-year-olds and upward going 6 1/2 furlongs on the dirt

#2 Beau Liam remained undefeated when he faced winners for the first time last time out. He will only be asked to go 6 1/2 furlongs on Sunday for Steve Asmussen. #4 Night Time is looking for his first win since last year when he won at Saratoga. In two races over this track, he won once and finished second less than a month ago.

Race 9: Better Talk Now Stakes for 3-year-olds going 1 mile (8 furlongs) on the inner turf

#6 In Effect is coming out of two stakes races, that many people would consider to be better than this one. His odds of 20/1 and 30/1 would suggest he was completely overmatched as well. #7 Straw Into Gold ran in the Manila Stakes two starts back, and ran pretty well. He showed he can compete in these non-graded stakes events. 

Race 10: Starter Allowance for 3-year-olds and upward going 1 1/16 miles (8 1/2 furlongs) on the Melon turf

#1 Count Down seems to be trending in the right direction as he moves from the Claiming ranks to the Starter Allowance level. Rudy Rodriguez is one of the best at moving runners up off of the claim. #2 Molino won on debut for Chad Brown back in May at Belmont. This is the first time we will see him since that race, as he faces winners for the first time.

THE TICKET

$3 Pick 4 (Races 7-10) 1,10 / 2,4 / 6,7 / 1,2 – $48

50¢ Pick 4 (Races 7-10) 1,5,10 / 2,4,9 / 3,6,7,8 / 1,2- $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: Del Mar

Ricky’s Rockets: Saratoga