Low 12-Percent Takeout, Races from Gulfstream, Laurel & Golden Gate

BALTIMORE – The Stronach 5, which continues to offer a strong return on investment with generous payouts and a low 12-percent takeout, offers large, competitive fields Friday from Gulfstream Park, Laurel Park and Golden Gate Fields.

Last week’s Stronach 5 had four horses return $8 or less – including two even-money favorites – and the cross-country wager still returned $1,922.20.

This week the Stronach 5 begins at approximately 4 ET at Gulfstream and concludes less than 90 minutes later at Golden Gate Fields.

The Stronach 5 begins with Gulfstream’s fifth race, a claiming event for fillies and mares scheduled over the mile turf course. Kay’s Project stretches out after a sixth-place finish at five furlongs last time out. Cactus Kitten has placed in six of nine turf races and comes off a third-place finish against similar after a wide trip last out. La Rusia comes into the event off a pair of second place finishes on a sloppy track and a good turf course. The 4-year-old filly, trained by Victor Barboza Jr., tends to be camera shy with 11 runner-up finishes and one victory.

Laurel’s eighth race features Maryland-bred or sired fillies and mares going seven furlongs on the main track. Fool Yourself breaks from the rail and will be searching for her fifth consecutive victory since being claimed by Claudio Gonzalez. Gonzalez will also saddle Lady Fox, who has placed in 10 of 14 starts at Laurel with two wins. Moquist tries to follow up her winning debut at Timonium at 5 ½ furlongs Sept. 5. Marvella Nasty, third against similar company last out, goes out for trainer Brittany Russell.

The Stronach 5’s third leg, Laurel’s ninth race, features a wide-open field of 2-year-old waiver claimers going six furlongs. Twist ‘n Twirl and Baltimore Bulleit come out of the same race Aug. 24. Twist ‘n Twirl, third in his debut for trainer Graham Motion, and Baltimore Bulleit, fourth for Claudio Gonzalez, both get blinkers. Vinny, sixth in his debut in July, is a first-time gelding for Tim Keefe.

Gulfstream’s seventh race, the fourth leg of the sequence, is a maiden special weight event for 2-year-old fillies on a 7 ½ furlong turf course. Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey’s homebred Sister Lou Ann, a daughter of Frosted, will make her debut for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. Trainer Mark Casse will send out Dry Humor, a daughter of Practical Joke for her debut, as well as Brush With the Law, who stretches out to two turns after failing to hit the board twice at five furlongs on the turf. Easy Come Easy Go goes out for David Braddy after finishing seventh at the distance and course last time after breaking from the 12 post.

The Stronach 5 concludes with Golden Gate’s second race, a claiming event for fillies and mares at six furlongs. Run Like Kona drops in company after an unsuccessful turf debut at Santa Anita in June. Concise Advice has been second or third in her last four starts. Traffic Stopper drops in company after racing the past eight months at Santa Anita, Del Mar and Los Alamitos.

Friday’s races and sequence

• Leg One –Gulfstream Race 5: (14 entries, 1 mile turf) 4 ET, 1 PT
• Leg Two –Laurel Race 8: (10 entries, 7 furlongs) 4:19 ET, 1:19 PT
• Leg Three –Laurel Race 9: (14 entries, 6 furlongs) 4:49 ET, 1:49 PT
• Leg Four –Gulfstream Race 7: (10 entries, 7 ½ furlongs turf) 5:04 ET, 2:04 PT
• Leg Five –Golden Gate Race 2: (9 entries, 6 furlongs) 5:14 ET, 2:14 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.