Ricky’s Rockets 🚀: Gulfstream Park, Oaklawn Park and Santa Anita Picks for February 27, 2020

Ricky’s Rockets🚀 is ready to attack another Saturday of top-notch racing. This isn’t an ordinary Saturday with some stakes races. Unlike any other in 2021, we have 12 stakes races from Gulfstream Park and Oaklawn Park alone. From sprints to routes, dirt to turf, younger runners to older runners, it’s all happening on Saturday afternoon. We also have two Triple Crown races as well, with points implications later on in the year. YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS!

Also included below: my 14-race preview of Gulfstream Park, 11-race preview of Oaklawn Park and 9-race preview of Santa Anita.

Best of luck!

Santa Anita February 27, 2020

Race 6: $80,000-$75,000 Maiden Claiming for 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) on the turf

#8 El Joy has run for a tag twice in his career, and those were the two best races of his young career by a lot. Umberto Rispoli will get his chance with this colt by Kitten’s Joy, who will try 9 furlongs on the turf for the first time. #9 Got Curly drops in for a tag for the first time, but in his two races going two turns, he ran his best. Mario Gutierrez has been riding extremely well as of late winning at 16% at the meet.

Race 7: $30,000-$28,000 Maiden Claiming for 3-year-olds going 6 furlongs on the dirt

#6 Handr’sdream took a lot of money on debut late last year, but he was pretty underwhelming at 5/2. Flavien Prat gets the mount here, but he looks relatively vulnerable. The biggest thing going for him is that he has some experience moving forward. #9 Diva’s Finale was purchased for $100,000 in 2019, but finds himself debuting at the $30,000 level. This is probably where he belongs, but when sorting through this field, it feels like one that can be one by a multitude of runners.

Race 8: Pasadena Stakes for 3-year-olds going 1 mile (8 furlongs) on the turf

#2 Cathkin Peak has been dominant since coming to the United States. He started off his career sprinting in Ireland, but since Phil D’Amato got him in training, he’s gotten better and better, and probably will be a post-time favorite. #5 Rock Your World debuted earlier this year sprinting on the turf, and will get the opportunity to stretch his legs here. This looks like a race that’s going to be won by one of two horses that will dominate the tote-board before they leave the gate.

Race 9: $16,000-$12,500 Claiming for 4-year-olds and upward going 6 furlongs on the dirt

#1 Fort McHenry has shown speed going longer in the past, so the cut-back in distance is a move that certainly should be favorable. He will never live up to the $1,100,000 purchase price attached to him in 2018, but maybe he can win here. #3 Malaki Movie looked much better in his first race since being gelded for Phil D’Amato. He probably won’t be on the lead, but has a strong chance sit the perfect trip and overtake the leaders if they let him get to close early on.

THE TICKET

$1 Pick 4 (Races 6-9) 3,7,8,9 / 6,9 / 2,5 / 1,3,7 – $48

50¢ Pick 4 (Races 6-9) 3,7,8,9 / 6,7,8,9 / 2,5 / 1,3,7 – $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