A competitive group of fillies and mares on turf sired by Uncle Mo, Tapit, American Pharoah, Candy Ride and Kitten's Joy will be the last piece of the Stronach 5 puzzle Friday, which will play host to races from Laurel Park, Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park and Golden Gate Fields.
The popular wager, which continues to provide a strong return on investment, also includes a low 12 percent takeout.
The Stronach 5 will kick off with Laurel's ninth race at 4:24 ET and conclude at Gulfstream at 5:08 ET.
Leg A: Laurel Race 9, 4:24 ET
1 1/8-mile, Starter Allowance, 4-year-olds and up
A field of nine, which have started for a claiming price of $5,000 or less in 2021-2022, go to post. Lost My Vowcher was claimed by Claudio Gonzalez after winning a $10,000 claimer in December. He's had tough trips in his last two at this level, in tight and steadied in January and checked in February. Titan's Will went gate-to-wire last out at 1 1/16 mile and could be alone on the lead again today. Bahama Channel gets Carlos Lopez back in the saddle for Annette Eubanks.
Leg B: Santa Anita Race 3, 4:30 ET
6 furlongs turf, Allowance Optional Claimer ($20,000), fillies and mares
Six California sired fillies and mares here. Youte, a 3-year-old daughter of Danzing Candy, breaks from the rail off a victory on the turf at 6 ½ furlongs Jan. 28 for Clifford Sise, Jr. Flavien Prat stays aboard. The field Youte beat Jan. 28 included Reddam Racing LLC's Increase Stakes, who returned to break her maiden Feb. 19 at this distance on the turf. Squared Shady enters off a victory Feb. 20 against starter allowance company on the all-weather at Golden Gate. Rose Maddox got off slow and just missed last out against allowance optional claiming company. The 3-year-old has a record of 4-1-2-0 with her only off-the-board finish coming at Los Alamitos in December in the Soviet Problem Stakes.
Leg C: Gulfstream Race 8, 4:4:37 ET
5 ½ furlongs, Allowance Optional Claimer ($20,000), fillies and mares
This race for Florida-breds has a field of seven led by Rigney Racing LLC's Smarmy, a 4-year-old daughter of Liam's Map who sold for $700,000. She ships in from Oaklawn Park for Philip Bauer with two of her last three works 'bullets.' This will be her first start since breaking her maiden at Churchill Downs in November. Leading rider Luis Saez has the mount. Merseyside drops in class for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. and jockey Tyler Gaffalione. No Decaf has finished first or second in four of her six starts. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the ride.
Leg D: Golden Gate Race 3, 4:47 ET
1 mile, $6,250 Claimer, fillies and mares
A field of nine go to post in this interesting contest for never won two. Maggie Fitzgerald drops in class, breaks from the outside, has a 10-pound bug, and comes in with a 'bullet' work. Harbor Abbey, a 4-year-old daughter of Gig Harbor, broke her maiden last out in only her third career start. Wayne Baker, 25-percent off the claim, sends out Sunset Star first time for the barn. Bluegrass Sky breaks from the rail after a second-place finish last out. Stein's Girl has six second place finishes on her resume
Leg E: Gulfstream Race 9, 5:08 ET
1 mile turf, Maiden Special Weight, fillies and mares
Whisper Hill Farm LLC's Watch It, a 4-year-old daughter of Tapit out of a group stakes-placed mare in Ireland, finished second in her debut Feb. 10 going two turns on a race that came off the turf. Trainer Todd Pletcher has named Luis Saez, a combination hitting at close to 30 percent this meet. Mozay, a 4-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo who sold for $350,000 as a yearling, was a 1 ¾-lenghths behind Watch It last out. Investment Income hopes the fifth time is the charm. The Chad Brown-trained daughter of Candy Ride was checked in Saratoga over the summer and was rank last time. Andie One didn't do much running when racing against Watch It and Mozay last out, but gets the turf today and blinkers come off. The Flying Pharoah makes her 4-year-old debut for the Clement barn after a pair of sixth-place finishes on the turf last year at Gulfstream and Keeneland. Irad Ortiz Jr. get the mount.
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.
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