Industry-Low 12-Percent Takeout

LAUREL, MD – The Stronach 5, which continues to offer a strong return on investment and an industry-low 12-percent takeout, will feature races Friday from Laurel Park, Gulfstream Park and Golden Gate Fields.

The action begins at 3:55 ET with Laurel’s eighth race, a very competitive optional allowance claiming event at a mile for 3-year-old fillies.

The favorite is likely to be Team Gaudet’s Fraudulent Charge, a daughter of Will Take Charge who stepped up off a debut victory in November to finish second by a nose in the $100,000 Gin Talking Stakes behind multiple stakes winner Street Lute. Malibu Beauty cuts back a bit in distance for trainer Gary Capuano after setting the pace and finishing fourth Dec. 26 in the $100,000 Anne Arundel. The 11-horse field also includes Chloe Rose, a daughter of Twirling Candy from the stable of Brittany Russell, who won in her second start by 2 ¼ lengths at a mile.

The second and third legs of the Stronach 5 will be hosted by Gulfstream. The second leg, Gulfstream’s eighth race, features $6,250 claimers going a mile. Favored Zonic drops in company, gets the rail and Irad Ortiz Jr. in the saddle. The third leg, Gulfstream’s ninth race, is a $75,000 allowance optional claimer at five furlongs on the turf for 3-year-old fillies. The wide-open seven-horse field has a tepid 3-1 choice in Magical Soul from the barn of John Kimmel. Six of the seven horses are 6-1 or under.

The third race at Golden Gate Fields will serve as the fourth leg in the Stronach 5. The 5 ½ furlong maiden event for 3-year-old fillies has a 2-1 favorite in The Gee Factor, who drops out of maiden special weight company for trainer Doug O’Neill. Trainer Jonathan Wong will saddle first-time starter Old West.

The Stronach 5 wraps up with Gulfstream’s 10th race, a five furlong claiming event for fillies and mares which have never won three races. It’s a wide-open race with Wedontbelieveher the 7-2 morning-line favorite with Irad Ortiz Jr. in the saddle for Luis Ramirez. Fawkes Racing Inc.’s Ms Big Spring (9-2) draws the rail and jockey Tyler Gaffalione. Arindel’s Lailoni enters off a 15-month layoff for trainer Gilberto Zerpa. Jose Ortiz is named.

Friday’s races and sequence

• Leg One – Laurel Park 8th Race: (11 entries, 1 mile) 3:55 ET, 12:55 PT
• Leg Two – Gulfstream Park 8th Race: (8 entries, 1 mile) 4:11 ET, 1:11 PT
• Leg Three –Gulfstream Park 9th Race: (7 entries, 5 furlongs turf) 4:42 ET, 1:42 PT
• Leg Four –Golden Gate Fields 3rd Race: (8 entries, 5 ½ furlongs) 4:49 ET, 1:49 PT
• Leg Five –Gulfstream Park 10th Race: (10 entries, 6 furlongs) 5:13 ET, 2:13 PT