Ricky’s Rockets 🚀: Gulfstream Park and Oaklawn Picks for February 25, 2020

Ricky’s Rockets🚀 had another strong week making the best of what tracks we had available to us! Now with the weather and cancellations behind us, we head back to Oaklawn on Thursday afternoon. We have arguably the biggest weekend ahead of us, and we intend to start building our bankrolls early!

Also included below: my 10-race preview of Gulfstream Park and 9-race preview of Oaklawn Park.

Best of luck!

Gulfstream Park February 25, 2020

Race 7: $25,000 Starter Optional Claiming for fillies and mares 4-year-olds and upward going 1 mile (8 furlongs) on the turf

#5 Jabucticaba isn’t too far removed from her race in the Gallorette Stakes (G3) last year at Pimlico. Since establishing herself against Starter Optional Claiming competition late last year and the early part of this year, she’s gotten back into good form. #7 Short Pour is part of the New York to Florida angle I have been so found of. I expect her to run one of her better races in quite a long time in her 2021 debut.

Race 8: $12,500 Allowance Optional Claiming for Florida-bred fillies and mares 4-year-olds and upward going 5 1/2 furlongs on the dirt

#1 Gitana looked stellar in her 2021 debut winning by close to 8 lengths at the $12,500 Claiming level. That race was good enough to get her to this race where she will be protected for the first time in her career, and guaranteed not to be claimed. #2 Loriloupies has been 3/5 and 4/5 in her last two starts, but she’s failed to win in either of them. Nonetheless, she’s still the most talented runner on paper. 

Race 9: $75,000 Allowance Optional Claiming for 3-year-old fillies going 5 furlongs on the turf

#3 La Libertee ran her first race since September when she lost her rider in the Untapable Stakes at Kentucky Downs. It wasn’t a surprise to see her run this way after a 4 1/2 month layoff, and she should do much better in her second start this year. #7 Can’t Buy Love finished ahead of La Libertee making this one-two punch formidable here. Can’t Buy Love has shown the ability to close into extremely quick fractions, so the faster they go, the better her chances of winning. 

Race 10: $35,000-$30,000 Maiden Claiming for 3-year-old fillies going 1 mile (8 furlongs) on the turf

#9 Frankie’s Girl has had some tough luck running into two runners that went on to win next time out from their respective Maiden Claiming races. She proved she can go two-turns last time out, so we at least have the answer to that question. #11 Italian Twin drops in class to the Maiden Claiming ranks for the first time. Cherie DeVaux must admit she probably should’ve dropped her filly into this race after her debut.

THE TICKET

$3 Pick 4 (Races 7-10) 5,7 / 1,2 / 3,7 / 9,11 – $48

50¢ Pick 4 (7-10) 3,5,6,7 / 1,2 / 2,3,7,10 / 3,9,11 – $48

For my full card plays, featuring race-by-race analysis, my top four picks for each race, and full-card multi-race wagers, check out my product below:

Ricky’s Rockets: Gulfstream Park

Ricky’s Rockets: Oaklawn Park