Ricky’s Rockets 🚀: Del Mar, Gulfstream Park and Saratoga Picks for August 21, 2021

It’s TVG Pacific Classic Day!! Del Mar takes center stage on Saturday afternoon, as we head to the west coast for the best racing of the weekend. After hitting the early Pick 4/5 at Del Mar, we are rolling into a massive Saturday! There are five stakes races on the card, and all of them have major implications for the rest of the year. Ricky’s Rockets 🚀 is back on Saturday to cover it all from Del Mar, Gulfstream Park and Saratoga.

Also included below: my 11-race preview of Del Mar, 12-race preview of Gulfstream Park, 11-race preview of Saratoga!

Saratoga August 21, 2021

Race 8: $35,000 Claiming for 3-year-olds and upward going 7 furlongs on the dirt

#2 Golani Brigade takes a huge drop in class after running against state-bred Allowance Optional Claiming runners. He is supposed to win this race, but will be an extremely short price as well. ALSO USING: #4 IDENTITY POLITICS

Race 9: Lake Placid Stakes (G2) for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles (8 1/2 furlongs) on the Melon turf

#2 Technical Analysis got a dream trip in the Lake George Stakes (G3) last time out. This field isn’t too much different, but she will have a new contender to deal with in #6 Spanish Loveaffair. This filly didn’t do much running in the Belmont Oaks (G1), against Santa Barbara and Con Lima at Belmont.

Race 10: Alabama Stakes (G1) for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/4 miles (10 furlongs) on the dirt

#1 Crazy Beautiful has rattled off two wins in a row including the Summer Oaks (G2) and the Delaware Oaks (G3) over the summer. She will face arguably the best three-year-old filly in the country in #6 Malathaat for Todd Pletcher. She suffered her first loss in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), but is still the most talented on paper.

Race 11: Maiden Special Weight for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and upward going 1 mile (8 furlongs) on the inner turf

#6 Ingress should be a lot more forwardly placed, as she makes her second career start. She will be asked to run on the dirt for the first time, but the experience here at Saratoga should help nonetheless. #12 Perfect Grace draws into this field, with many runners scratched out. She has plenty of dirt experience, something many other runners don’t have.

THE TICKET

$3 Pick 4 (Races 8-11) 2,4 / 2,6 / 1,6 / 6,12 – $48

50¢ Pick 4 (Races 8-11) 2,4,6,9 / 2,4,6 / 1,6 / 3,6,12  – $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: Gulfstream Park

Ricky’s Rockets: Saratoga