Low 12-Percent Takeout
Races from Laurel, Santa Anita, Gulfstream, and Golden Gate

BALTIMORE – The Stronach 5 will feature an average field size of 10 and a low 12-percent takeout when it returns Friday with races from Laurel Park, Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park and Golden Gate Fields.

There were four winning tickets last week in the Stronach 5 with each returning $98,311. The popular wager had a carryover of $78,823.

The Stronach 5 begins at approximately 4:07 ET with a field of 12 allowance runners going 5 ½ furlongs on the turf at Laurel Park. Montauk Daddy gets the rail for trainer Rob Atras and jockey Charlie Marquez. Fourth over a “good turf” at Monmouth Park last out, the 4-year-old son of Daddy Long Legs won consecutive races this summer sprinting on the turf and dirt at Saratoga. Hard to Be Humble just missed last out at the distance and surface for trainer Hugh McMahon. Irish Mias hasn’t raced in a year for trainer Graham Motion, but as a 3-year-old was beaten just four lengths in the Saranac (G3) and three in the Kitten’s Joy (G3).

The Stronach 5 stays in Maryland for the second leg. Laurel’s ninth race, a starter allowance for 3-year-olds and up at seven furlongs, Kingston Pike has had some tough luck his last two starts under jockey Grant Whitacre. The 6-year-old finished second Sept. 26 despite stumbling at the break and was placed third in his last after being checked at the eighth pole. Whitacre remains aboard for trainer Mario Serey Jr. Sneakiness arrives at Laurel after racing at Parx and Monmouth this summer. The 5-year-old has finished first or second in five of his last six starts. Rock and Fellers likes to show speed and goes for his fourth win in his last five starts.

The action shifts to California for the third leg of the Stronach 5. Santa Anita’s third leg features 11 maidens, 3 and up, at 1 1/16 miles. After finishing eighth on the turf last out, Mayhem and Chaos drops in company and returns to the main track, where he finished second Sept. 24 at Los Alamitos against $40,000 claimers. The son of Union Rags will also be equipped with blinkers for trainer Ron Ellis. Mongol Altai will try to find the winner’s circle in his 18th try after finishing second in both of his last starts. Big Well returns from a two-month layoff for Ryan Hanson. The first and third finishers from his last race at Del Mar both returned to win. Flavien Prat gets the mount.

Gulfstream’s ninth race serves as the fourth leg of the Stronach 5. The 5 ½ furlong maiden claiming event drew a dozen 2-year-old fillies including Greatest Glory, claimed last time out by Jorge Delgado, who is 28-percent first off the claim and 31-percent in maiden claimers. Chantal Sutherland gets the ride. Mi. Tallawah and La Bokaina make their second starts after finishing third in their debut. Trainer Antonio Sano will saddle first-time starter Hannita’s Empire. Edgard Zayas has the mount.

The Stronach 5 wraps up at Golden Gate Fields with the third race, another maiden race, this one a maiden special weight, for 2-year-old fillies at 5 ½ furlongs. Delia Mo, a daughter of Outwork, will try to break her maiden in her fourth race. She finished fifth in September against maiden special weight company at Los Alamitos and enters this race off a second-place finish at Fresno. Jonathan Wong sends out first-time starter Midnight’s Girl as does Jamey Thomas with Don’t Tell Hydee. Gold Rush Gal comes into the race off a second-place finish against restricted company Oct. 2 at Golden Gate.

Friday’s races and sequence

• Leg One –Laurel Race 8: (12 entries, 5 ½ furlongs turf) 4 :07 ET, 1:07 PT
• Leg Two – Laurel Race 9: (9 entries, 7 furlongs) 4:39 ET, 1:39 PT
• Leg Three –Santa Anita Race 3: (11 entries, 1 1/16 mile) 5:02 ET, 2:02 PT
• Leg Four – Gulfstream Race 9: (12 entries, 5 ½ furlongs) 5:06 ET, 2:06 PT
• Leg Five –Golden Gate Race 3: (8 entries, 5 ½ furlongs) 5:20 ET, 2:20 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.