Stronach 5: Friday’s Stronach 5 Features Four Sprints – Low 12-Percent Takeout

By David Joseph —-

Friday’s Stronach 5 Features Four Sprints

Low 12-Percent Takeout

BALTIMORE – The Stronach 5 will feature four competitive sprint races Friday from Laurel Park, Gulfstream Park and Golden Gate Fields before concluding with a two-turn event on the Tapeta at Gulfstream.

The popular wager begins at 3:34 ET with Laurel’s seventh race and a low 12-percent takeout.

The first leg of the sequence is a six-furlong claiming event for 3-year-olds and up with a wide-open 11-horse field and a tepid 7-2 favorite in Gale Winds, who drops from $16,000 to $10,000 for trainer John Robb. While Gale Winds breaks from the rail, Petion Night will make his first start since May of 2019 while breaking from the 11 post for trainer Gary Contessa. Mutakaamil goes out first time for trainer Kieron Magee after being claimed from a maiden victory at Delaware.

Gulfstream’s eighth race, an allowance optional claimer at six furlongs for fillies and mares, is up next with 12-time winner Liza Star breaking from the rail for trainer Jose Garoffalo. Leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. will send out Naughty Shirley, second last time out to multiple stakes winner Choose Joy.

Laurel’s eighth race, the third leg of the sequence, is a starter allowance at six furlongs for 3-year-olds and up. His Name Is Sue is the 5-2 favorite off a second-place finish last out against $16,000 claimers. Powerful Ally ships in from Parx for trainer Carlos Caban. Mystic Times enters off a ninth in the Maryland Million Starter Handicap.

The action heads to Golden Gate Fields for the fourth leg of the sequence. Golden Gate’s second race features $16,000 claimers, 3-year-olds and up and has a 7-5 favorite in Battle of Memphis, a winner last out Sept. 19 on the turf. Harbor Kitty enters the race off a third-place finish last out, missing by a head against starter allowance company.

The Stronach 5 ends with Gulfstream’s ninth race, a $20,000 claiming event at a mile and 70-yard event for fillies and mares. Divine Exchange will seek her third consecutive victory and first at Gulfstream after winning two at Belterra over the summer. Chantal Sutherland gets the ride. Lady Jae goes out first time off the claim for Victor Barboza after winning on the distance and surface last time out. Edwin Gonzalez has been named to ride. Alba’s Star drops in class for Steve Klesaris and jockey Edgard Zayas.

Friday’s races and sequence

Leg One –Laurel Race 7: (11 entries, 6 furlongs) 3:34 ET, 12:34 PT
Leg Two –Gulfstream Race 8: (7 entries, 6 furlongs) 3:53 ET, 12:53 PT
Leg Three –Laurel Race 8: (8 entries, 6 furlongs) 4:02 ET, 1:02 PT
Leg Four – Golden Gate Race 2: (8 entries, 6 furlongs) 4:18 ET, 1:18 PT
Leg Five –Gulfstream Race 9: (9 entries, mile and 70 yards) 4:23 ET, 1:23 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.

ABOUT THE STRONACH GROUP AND 1/ST

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The company’s consumer facing brand 1/ST (pronounced “First”) powers The Stronach Group’s forward-thinking 1/ST RACING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY, 1/ST EXPERIENCE, and 1/ST PROPERTIES businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred horse racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING drives the best-in-class horse racing operations at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, Gulfstream Park West and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); the Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course – home of the legendary Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the newly formed operating group for all of 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, GWS and XBTV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is horse racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST EXPERIENCE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality through innovative content development, elevated national and local venue management and hospitality, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and procurement development. 1/ST PROPERTIES is responsible for the development of the company’s live, work and play communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred horse racing on and off the track. For more information, please email david.joseph@marylandracing.com and visit www.1st.com.