Four Tracks, 12-Percent Takeout

BALTIMORE – Friday’s Stronach 5 will feature full fields, four tracks, and an industry-low 12-percent takeout.

The popular wager, which had three winning tickets last week each worth $40,140, will feature racing from Pimlico Race Course, Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields and an industry-low 12-percent takeout.

The Stronach 5 begins with Pimlico’s ninth race, an allowance event at five furlongs on the turf for 3-year-olds and up. The Colts Neck Stable’s entry of Nothing Better and Town of Gold is the 2-1 favorite. Town of Gold returns off a five-month layoff. The 3-year-old finished second at Aqueduct Dec. 4 in the optional allowance claimer. Nothing Better also returns from a five-month layoff, Jorge Duarte Jr. saddles the entry. Sky’s Not Falling was stakes-placed last year as a juvenile at Saratoga, Woodbine and Presque Isle Downs. He returns to the turf after a second-place finish on the main track at Pimlico May 6. Michael Trombetta trains.

Gulfstream’s ninth race, a 7 ½ furlong event on the turf for maiden fillies and mares is next with Uptown Queen the 3-1 favorite for trainer David Fawkes. The daughter of Big Drama was second against similar Jan. 7 before finishing sixth Jan. 27 after a very wide trip breaking from the 12 post.

Santa Anita’s third race, an optional claimer for fillies and mares at 6 ½ furlongs on the turf, drew a field of eight led by 2-1 favorite Acai. Vegas Palm (5-2) is one of only two horses entered to win on the turf along with Peace Pipe.

The fourth leg of the Stronach 5 will be Golden Gate’s third race, a mile event for 3-year-old maidens. Mattawa N That, second in four of his first five starts, is the 9-5 favorite. Command Sgt. Major drops a bit in class after a third-place finish and is listed at 2-1.

The Stronach 5 concludes with Santa Anita’s fourth race, a maiden event for 3-year-olds at six furlongs. Marksman On Target (2-1) drops in from maiden special weight restricted company for trainer Gary Stute. The Roan Ranger (4-1) goes as a first-time gelding.

Friday’s races and sequence

• Leg One – Pimlico Race 9: (11 entries – 5 furlongs turf) 4:49 ET, 1:49 PT
• Leg Two – Gulfstream Race 9: (12 entries – 7 ½ furlongs turf) 4:57 ET, 1:57 PT
• Leg Three – Santa Anita Race 3: (8 entries – 6 ½ furlongs turf) 5:06 ET, 2:06 PT
• Leg Four – Golden Gate Race 3: (7 entries – 1-mile) 5:21 ET, 2:21 PT
• Leg Five – Santa Anita Race 4: (9 entries – 6 furlongs): 5:37 ET, 2:37 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 Stronach 5 In the Money podcast, hosted by Jonathan Kinchen and Peter Thomas Fornatale, will be posted by 2 p.m. Thursday at InTheMoneyPodcast.com and will be available on iTunes and other major podcast distributors

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.