Ricky’s Rockets ?: Saratoga & Gulfstream Park Picks for July 17, 2020

After a fantastic opening day, the racing continues Friday afternoon with the De La Rose Stakes and the Shine Again Stakes, both for fillies and mares 4-year-olds and up.

Best of luck!

Race 7: De La Rose Stakes for fillies and mares 4-year-olds and upward going 1 mile (8 furlongs) on the inner turf

#1 Catch a Bid returned in fine form in her first start this year and looks to make it 2 in a row. #3 Passing Out will be happy that Rushing Fall is not in this race after finishing third to the top-flight mare in the Beaugay Stakes (G3). #4 Clara Peeters will try to close into a hot pace and catch the front-runners in this two-turn turf mile. I will also use #2 Noor Sahara, #6 Viadera and #8 Xenobia in multi-race wagers. USE #5 BRIDLEWOOD CAT IF DRAWN IN!!

Race 8: $62.5k Optional Claiming for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and upward going 5 1/2 furlongs on the outer turf

#2 Olendon had a tough 2019 campaign, facing Concrete Rose (twice) and New and Improved in stakes competition. Chad Brown cuts her distance dramatically to 5 1/2 furlongs, the shortest of her career. #3 Lady Lawyer finished second to Clara Peeters, one of the top fillies in the De La Rose, and will be tough to beat if she could repeat that effort in her second North American start. #5 Lady Worthington has the speed to get away from this field early on. Gerardo Corrales makes his way to Saratoga to ride again for the Wesley Ward trainee.

Race 9: Shine Again Stakes for fillies and mares 4-year-olds and upward going 7 furlongs on the dirt

The clear standout in this group is #5 Indian Pride. She broke her maiden here last year by open lengths and ran well in the Raven Run Stakes (G2) in her other 2019 start. She returned to the track on June 20 at the allowance well and won as a heavy favorite. #9 Blamed outclasses this field by quite a large margin. She finished fourth in the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) and is the most likely winner if Indian Pride falters.

Race 10: $40k Maiden Claiming for New York-bred 3-year-olds and upward going 7 furlongs on the dirt (OFF TURF)

#11 True Grace has shown speed on the dirt and looked much better in his lone 2020 start. #14 Cold Hard Cash draws in for Linda Rice as he makes his first start in 2020. He will ride without blinkers similar to his first two starts. #15 Quick Return was impressive in his debut. With all of the scratches, he will be much closer to the rail rather than his far outside post position.

THE TICKET

50¢ PICK 4 (Races 7-10) 1,2,3,4,6,8 / 2,3,5 / 5,9 / 11,14,15 – $54

Friday, July 17, 2020

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Ricky’s Rockets: Saratoga

Ricky’s Rockets: Gulfstream Park