Ricky’s Rockets ?: Gulfstream Park Picks for May 9, 2020

Ricky’s Rockets are back for another 12-race card on Saturday afternoon and I will be covering the early Pick 5. The highlight of this card is the country’s lone stakes all weekend, the Sunshine Forever Stakes. Will the Preakness Stakes (G1) winner War of Will make a big splash in his return to the turf? What will Social Paranoia and Admission Office have to say about it?

Best of luck!

Race 1: Maiden Claiming $12,500-$10,500 for 3-year-olds and upward going 1 mile (8 furlongs) on the turf. Purse $17,000

#2 Mayito has responded well to running at Gulfstream Park since moving to trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. He takes a slight drop in class and top rider Tyler Gaffalione gets the call again after finishing second by 2 lengths last time out. #5 Jack Beanstalk was entered for the turf last time out on April 26, but the weather forced the race onto a sloppy dirt track. He gets the turf again and will likely try to wire the field. #10 Sweet Giant returned to the turf last time out after five dirt attempts and put forth his best career effort. Breaking from the outside should help this 4-year-old Giant’s Causeway colt.

Race 2: Maiden Special Weight for 2-year-olds going 4 1/2 furlongs on the dirt. Purse $65,000

There are a lot of ways that this race can break, as all eight runners scheduled for the gate have zero race experience. My top choice is #8 Hyperfocus. His sire, Constitution, was red-hot with his first crop of runners – his debuting 2-year-olds won at a 26% clip. Other runners I am using: #4 Breakthrough, #5 Ziggy, #6 Cobb, #7 Full Send, #9 Peppi

Race 3: Maiden Claiming $40,000-$30,000 for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and upward going 1 mile (8 furlongs) on the turf. Purse $30,000 

Trainer Todd Pletcher excels at 38% with runners that drop from maiden special weight to maiden claiming events, and #12 Cat Lady is his latest runner to make that change. She’s broken from the outside and shown an ability to press the front-runners in the past, and as the class of this field, she is the clear horse to beat.

Race 4: Claiming $16,000 for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and upward going 1 mile (8 furlongs) on the turf. Purse $20,000 

#1 Algodonal drew the rail for the second time after saving ground the entire way and finishing third last time out. With very little early speed signed on for this race, it would not be surprising for Emisael Jaramillo to send her to the front, something he has done victoriously with her in the past. #4 Too Much War steps up in class from non-winners of two lifetime after succeeding by showing speed last time out – a rarity for her. With tougher competition here, Luis Saez will need to give her the perfect trip to win her second in a row. #6 Sand Drift enters this spot after three months away from the track. She is a very consistent runner and Saffie Joseph, Jr., has won 22% during this meet. #10 Get Rewarded has been a victim of her own success, failing to break well out of the gate and taking wide trips around the track, but trainer Sarah Nagle’s lone win this meet came with this filly last time out. If she can break cleanly for the second straight time, then she will be well worth her 8/1 morning line.

Race 5: Maiden Claiming $10,000 for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and upward going 6 furlongs on the dirt. Purse $16,000

#1 Socially Astray will try breaking his maiden status in his 14th career start, having finished fourth and third at this level in consecutive starts. Against this weak field, those performances are worthy of being placed on the ticket. The debuting #3 Poseidons Princess is my top choice because trainer Larry Pilotti’s runners have been live as of late and Luis Saez jumps aboard. #9 Lola Wants makes her second career start after fading very early in her debut last September. Cross out that race against a much tougher group and take the 9/2 morning line odds.

THE TICKET

$.50 PICK 5 (Races 1-5) 2,5,10 / 4,5,6,7,8,9 / 12 / 1,4,6,10 / 1,3,9 – $108

Want more Gulfstream picks? Get the Dudes’ FREE and PREMIUM picks!