Low 12-Percent Takeout

LAUREL, MD – The Stronach 5 will feature competitive races Friday from Laurel Park, Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park and Golden Gate Fields along with a low 12-percent takeout.

The sequence will include an allowance optional claimer for 3-year-old fillies from Gulfstream and wide-open claiming events from Laurel, Santa Anita and Golden Gate.

The Stronach 5, which continues to offer a strong return on investment, will start at 3:55 with Races 9 and 10 from Laurel.

Laurel’s ninth race, a $40,000 maiden claimer for 3-year-old fillies going six furlongs, drew a wide-open field of 10 and a tepid 4-1 favorite in Miss Foxann, a well-beaten favorite in her second start Dec. 17. The daughter of Kantharos is first-time Lasix. Leading trainer Claudio Gonzalez steps up Joe Mike Jim after claiming her Dec. 19 for $25,000 in her second start. Brittany Russell will saddle Market of Stocks, third after a wide trip in her debut Nov. 20. The winner of the race came back to win a $25,000 claimer. Russell also saddles first-time starter Doomscroller, a daughter of Tonalist.

Laure’s 10th race, a $5,000 claimer for 4-year-olds and up at a mile, is another wide-open race with Jungle Warrior a 5-2 favorite. The gelding will be making his first start since February. Hayne’s Fever comes off a second-place finish on a muddy track Dec. 31. Edict comes out of the same race, finishing third on the muddy track. The 6-year-old won over a fast track Dec. 10 at Penn National for Edward Allard.

The Stronach 5 heads west for the third leg and Santa Anita’s third race, a $20,000 claiming event for fillies and mares at six furlongs. The field of six is led by Cayton Kid, who was competitive at this level Dec. 11 but was a well-beaten sixth last out when running against restricted maiden special weight company. Lookin At Sweetie, beaten in her first two starts by 11 lengths both times, goes out first time for Richard Baltas. It will be the fillies first start since October of 2020.

Gulfstream’s ninth race serves as the fourth leg of the sequence. The $61,000 allowance optional claiming event at a mile and 70 yards on the Tapeta drew seven 3-year-old fillies. Todd Pletcher saddles the 2-1 favorite in Morning Nell, a winner in her Dec. 5 debut on turf. The daughter of Kitten’s Joy gets first-time Lasix. Qatar Racing’s Sunstrike, an Irish-bred who was stakes-placed in Great Britain at two, makes her second start in the U.S. after a sixth-place finish Dec. 3 in the Wait a While. Myfavoritedaughter was second on the turf at Tampa last out after finishing seventh in the Wait a While, 10th in the Alcibiades (G1) and fourth in the Del Mar Debutante (G1). Mark Casse sends out Palmach, ninth in the Wait a While, and Fish Money, third on the Tapeta last out.

The Stronach 5 concludes with Golden Gate’s third race, a $4,000 claiming event at a mile for fillies and mares. Mia Solina breaks from the rail and is 5-2 in the morning line. The mare has a second and four thirds in her last five starts. Quick Time, claimed off a victory against $5,000 maidens, drops after finishing eighth against $12,500 claimers. Shanghai Mist goes out for Faith Taylor after a fourth-place finish last out.

Friday’s races and sequence

• Leg 1 –Laurel Race 9: (10 entries, 6 furlongs) 3.55 ET, 12:55 PT
• Leg 2 –Laurel Race 10: (11 entries, 1 mile) 4:24ET, 1:24 PT
• Leg 3 – Santa Anita Race 3: (6 entries, 6 furlongs) 4:33 ET, 1:33 PT
• Leg 4 – Gulfstream Race 9: (7 entries, mile & 70 yards) 4:42 ET, 1:42 PT
• Leg 5 –Golden Gate Race 3: (8 entries, 1 mile) 4:49 ET, 1:49 PT

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.