Ricky’s Rockets 🚀: Gulfstream Park, Oaklawn Picks and Santa Anita Picks for February 26, 2020

Ricky’s Rockets🚀 definitely enjoyed getting back to Hot Springs, Arkansas! It has been a few weeks since we were live from Oaklawn Park, but we returned with a bang. Gulfstream Park was the kindest to us all, giving out a free 50¢ Pick 4 given out on racingdudes.com for $333.65, Pick 5 $2,621.15 and Pick 6 $6,418.48! Not a bad afternoon to be playing along bringing close to $9,400 in winning tickets! Friday afternoon is “moving” day as we start to ramp up the weekend. What track trends are we seeing, how are the dirt/turf courses playing, and plenty more all right here! We throw Santa Anita into the mix as well, and dive into one of the most anticipated weekends of the year.

Also included below: my 10-race preview of Gulfstream Park, 9-race preview of Oaklawn Park and 8-race preview of Santa Anita.

Best of luck!

Gulfstream Park February 26, 2020

Race 7: $6,250 Claiming for fillies and mares 4-year-olds and upward going 6 furlongs on the dirt

#9 Ms Big Spring doesn’t lack early speed, but she does lack the capability to hold her best sides going into the final furlongs. This is the right level for her but at a short price, she is extremely vulnerable given her past transgressions. #10 Lalali stays at the same class but moves up to non-winners of three races lifetime. The class is technically tougher, but all things considered it’s pretty much a lateral move.

Race 8: $35,000-$25,000 Claiming for 3-year-olds going 1 mile (8 furlongs) on the turf

#7 Golovkin has been much better as of late including her Maiden Claiming win to kick off his 2021 campaign. Now a 3-year-old, he’s done much better showing speed and going two turns on the turf. With each race, he’s showing why hopes were so high on him just 6 months ago. #9 Halcyon Digest was scheduled for a $50,000 Starter Optional Claiming race on Wednesday afternoon, but will now run in this spot. That move suggests he will run much better in for a tag, as opposed to runners protected, or former stakes runners. 

Race 9: $50,000 Starter Optional Claiming for 3-year-old fillies going 6 furlongs on the dirt

#2 R Adios Jersey stayed undefeated after her dominant win at the $35,000 Maiden Claiming level last year. She has lived up to the hype winning at 4/5 and 3/5 respectively as well. This filly is one of Georgina Baxter’s better runners going. #5 Headline Hunter is one of many runners that will search for the lead right out of the gate. She didn’t have the most impressive debut, but Wesley Ward must be confident she can take a step up in class to this level.

Race 10: $25,000-$20,000 Maiden Claiming for 3-year-old fillies going 5 furlongs on the turf

#6 Julie Bird can’t afford to be as far back as she wants to be. In her only start at this distance, she was dead last and managed to finish third. It’s okay to want to close into a race like this, but there simply isn’t enough time to close into a five furlong turf sprint. Look for her to be more forwardly placed in this one. #11 Chips and Salsa has never run a race lower than 15/1 odds in her career. She doesn’t seem that much worse than some other short prices in here, so I’ll take 8/1 if I can get it at post time.

THE TICKET

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

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

Ricky’s Rockets: Santa Anita