Two on the Turf, Low 12-Percent Takeout

LAUREL, MD – Friday’s Stronach 5, which has consistently produced a strong return on investment with a low 12-percent takeout, will feature four tracks Friday with full fields and competitive races.

The Stronach 5 will feature races from Laurel Park, Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park and Golden Gate Fields. The races from Santa Anita and Gulfstream are both scheduled on the turf.

The popular cross-country wager will begin with Laurel’s eighth race, an allowance optional claimer with a field of 10, at 4:19 ET and conclude with Golden Gate’s third race at 5:25 ET.

Leg A: Laurel Race 8, 4:19 ET
About 1 1/16-mile, Allowance Optional Claimer ($62,500), 3-year-olds

A field of 10 kicks off the Stronach 5 and it’s a competitive group. Heartness, trained by Jamie Ness, finished third last time out at a mile behind Shake Em Loose, who returned to win Saturday’s Private Terms. Heartness has two wins and a second in four starts at the distance. Uncle Irish comes out of the same race, sixth and beaten four lengths by Heartness. The Addison Pour, a son of Tonalist, has raced only twice for Brittany Russell but comes into the race off a second-place finish against similar. Shamateur goes out for the first time since November and for a new barn in Jose Corrales. The Shaman Ghost colt spent the fall competing in Woodbine’s stakes races. Graham Motion sends out Rookieoftheyear, who broke his maiden last out at this distance. The Madefromlucky colt has run well on fast tracks.

Leg B: Laurel Race 9, 4:56 ET
7 furlongs, Allowance Optional Claimer ($62,500), 3-year-olds fillies

Another 10 horse, evenly matched group. Trainer John Robb, who’s winning at a 35 percent clip this winter, sends out Bandits Warrior. Out of the mare Onearmedbandit, who produced multiple stakes winner Anna’s Bandit, Bandits Warrior broke her maiden at first asking in May at Pimlico before returning March 4 to finish second against similar company. Robb also saddles Fuhgeddaboutit, who broke her maiden in February before finishing behind Bandits Warrior March 4 by 3 ½ lengths. Stickit to the Man, a daughter of Speightstown, broke her maiden at first asking Feb. 10 for Brittany Russell, who’s winning at a 28 percent clip. Money’s Worth broke her maiden in December before finishing eighth in the Wide Country here Feb. 19 behind Luna Belle. California Bella goes out first time for Hugh McMahon, who claimed the California Chrome filly for $25,000 last out. Lady Zeta enters off a couple wins, at Laurel and Parx, for Claudio Gonzalez.

Leg C: Santa Anita Race 3, 5:06 ET
1 mile turf, Maiden Special Weigh ($67,000), 3-year-olds and up

A field of eight for California bred or sired horses could help Over Regulated graduate. The gelding has had troubled trips in his only two starts for Doug O’Neill. Trainer Michael McCarthy sends out Fore Flag, who has two seconds and a third in five trips across the turf. John Velazquez gets the mount. Erebus finished second two back, two in front of Fore Flag, but was seventh last out after breaking poorly and then dueling on the front. Straus’s Place tries turf for the first time in five starts and drops out of open company for Philip D’Amato.

Leg D: Gulfstream Race 9, 5:16 ET
1 1/16-mile turf, Allowance Optional Claimer ($25,000), fillies and mares

A dozen go to post. Final Belle returned from a 10-month layoff after breaking her maiden at first asking to finish fourth at Gulfstream Jan. 29 in a race where second-place finisher Star Seeking returned to win. The daughter of Uncle Mo gets Junior Alvarado for third career start. Danny Gargan (29-percent win percentage) sends out Blue Times, who goes for third consecutive victory after wins at Aqueduct in December and Gulfstream in January. Champagne Lady, a length in front of Final Belle last time out, goes out for Shug McGaughey. Silky Warrior returns to turf, where she won at Kentucky Downs in September and finished third at Keeneland in October.

Leg E: Golden Gate Race 3: 5:25 ET
6 furlongs, Maiden claimer ($5,000), fillies and mares

Cat Lady Blues drops from $20,000 maiden claimer in her fourth career start and goes out for a new barn in Jonathan Wong, who is 25-percent with newcomers. The field of nine also includes first-time starter Funky Grey for trainer Steven Miyadi, who is 20-percent with debut maiden claimers. Tribute to Jazz was second by a nose against $8,000 maiden claimers in January and a well-beaten fifth last time out against $12,500 claimers. Cliffsofthunder, claimed last out for $8,000, gets blinkers in seventh start, sixth in U.S.

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.