Wide-Open Fields, Low 12-Percent Takeout
LAUREL, Md. – With wide-open fields and three maiden races on turf and Tapeta, Friday’s Stronach 5 could offer a generous return on investment.
The coast-to-coast wager will offer races from Laurel Park, Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields and Gulfstream Park along with a low 12-percent takeout. Santa Anita will play host to a maiden special weight event on the turf, while one of Gulfstream’s two races in the sequence will be a maiden claimer on the turf. The Stronach 5 had 56 winning tickets last week each worth $1,756.20. There were three winning favorites in the sequence.
The Stronach 5 will go coast-to-coast beginning in Maryland at approximately 4:27 ET and will conclude at approximately 5:44 ET at Gulfstream.
Leg A: Laurel Race 9, 4:27 ET
1 mile, Allowance Optional Claimer, ($50,000-$40,000), 4-year-olds and up
The 5-2 favorite is Borracho in this eight-horse field. This son of Uncle Mo won his last under similar conditions by 6 1/2 lengths and was claimed from Jamie Ness by Michael Gorham, who is 30-percent off the claim. Bustoff won under similar conditions in December before finishing fourth Jan. 29 in the Jennings. Treasure Trove cuts back slightly in distance off a fourth-place finish Feb. 19 in the John B. Campbell. Honor the Fleet won his last at the distance and is five of 11 at the distance and has six wins at the track.
Leg B: Golden Gate Race 3, 4:53 ET
5 ½ furlongs, Maiden Special Weight, 4-year-olds and up
Seven go to post and breaking from the outside is the 2-1 favorite Sal N Louie, who finished second last out despite breaking poorly. It was his first start in 12 months and first time while being saddled by trainer Victor Trujillo, who’s 25-percent second off a 180-day layoff. Istanbul, purchased for $160,000 as a 2-year-old, raced three times at two, once at four and once at five. The son of He’s Had Enough makes his first start since May for James Cassidy. Greg James sends out first-time starter Draw the Foul, a 4-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway.
Leg C: Santa Anita Race 4, 5:08 ET
1 mile turf, Maiden Special Weight, 3-year-olds and up
A competitive nine-horse field goes to post led by Cool Acclaim (5-2) and Erebus (3-1). Trained by Philip D’Amato, Cool Acclaim checked in fifth in his debut at 6 ½ furlongs on the turf after breaking slow and jumping the track crossing surfaces. Flavien Prat has the mount. Erebus has failed 10 times to get into the winner’s circle for trainer Walter Solis, but he enters off a pair of second-place finishes. Just about Enough returns to restricted company after running against open company in his last two starts. Dark Marcus was off slow and checked when finishing three lengths behind Erebus in last. Umberto Rispoli rides for Brian Koriner.
Leg D: Gulfstream Race 9, 5:12 ET
About 1 1/16-mile Tapeta, Starter Optional Claimer ($16,000), 3-year-olds
A wide-open, eight-horse field led by Canelito, who broke his maiden on the Tapeta by seven last out in a $16,000 claimer for Jonathan Thomas. Luis Saez is named. Cashier Check breaks from the rail for Jose Ortiz after just missing last time out under Saez in a starter optional. In a race that appears to have some pace, Unified Conquest should be closing as he did last out when finishing second by a neck in a $35,000 claimer. Julien Leparoux in the saddle.
Leg E: Gulfstream Race 10, 5:44 ET
1 mile turf, Maiden Claimer ($35,000), 3-year-olds
A field of 10 close out the Stronach 5 and, like most races, there’s no clear favorite. The tepid 3-1 choice is Boggiemiester, who makes his first start on turf after a couple of in-the-money finishes on the Tapeta. Tyler Gaffalione aboard. Bluto’s Candy goes out first time for Kelly Breen, who’s 11-percent off the claim. The son of Twirling Candy finished third, beaten two lengths, last out for a $35,000 tag. Ciango, a son of More Than Ready, hits the turf for the first time and drops from maiden special weight for trainer Fausto Gutierrez.
Fans can watch and wager on the action at 1/ST.COM/BET as well as stream all the action in English and Spanish at LaurelPark.com, SantaAnita.com, GulfstreamPark.com, and GoldenGateFields.com.
The minimum wager on the multi-race, multi-track Stronach 5 is $1. If there are no tickets with five winners, the entire pool will be carried over to the next Friday.
If a change in racing surface is made after the wagering closes, each selection on any ticket will be considered a winning selection. If a betting interest is scratched, that selection will be substituted with the favorite in the win pool when wagering closes.
The Maryland Jockey Club serves as host of the Stronach 5.
Maryland Jockey Club Press Release
Photo of Laurel Park Racing by Maryland Jockey Club
