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

BALTIMORE – The key to having a winning ticket in Friday’s Stronach 5 could rest on three juvenile races, including a maiden special weight event from Laurel Park and a starter optional claimer from Gulfstream Park.

The Stronach 5, featuring a low 12-percent takeout and a maiden event at Golden Gate Fields, will begin at approximately 3:40 ET when maiden fillies and mares go six furlongs in a $10,000 claiming event at Laurel.

Laurel’s seventh race is a wide-open, six-furlong event with a dozen fillies and mares. Moon Biz draws the rail and returns to the main track after trying the turf at Laurel in her second career start after a fifth-place finish on the main track against better at Pimlico in August. Scarlet’s Song returns off a near 10-month break for Robert Klesaris. Time After Time makes her second start for trainer Michael Trombetta after a seventh-place finish on the turf in her debut Oct. 15. Trainer Kelly Rubley sends out Vinegar Veggies second time off the claim. Leading trainer Claudio Gonzalez will saddle I Can Run, second by only a neck last time out at Delaware Park.

Gulfstream’s eighth race, the second leg of the Stronach 5, is a starter optional claimer for 2-year-olds. Peter D returns after winning the Journeyman Stud Juvenile Oct. 23. The He’s Had Enough gelding has won two of three starts. Run Lea Run, sixth in the Hollywood Beach in September, and Steel City Dude, a winner last out for trainer David Fawkes, are also expected to take money.

Laurel’s eighth race, the third leg of the sequence, features 2-year-old fillies in a maiden special weight event at six furlongs. Middle Island goes out second time for trainer Brittany Russell, who is 33-percent at the meet and 31-percent with maidens making their second start. Estate is a $300,000 yearling buy going out for the second time after finishing third Oct. 21 in her debut for Trombetta.

Golden Gate’s second race, a $5,000 maiden claimer for fillies and mares, serves as the next race in the sequence. Quick Time has finished second or third in six of nine career starts and drops a bit in class. Stein’s Girl gets the rail and brings four second-place finishes to the race. Lil Tinker was off slow and finished fifth last time out after closing to finish second the time before.

It’s back to Gulfstream for its ninth race, a $50,000 claiming event for 2-year-old maidens. Trainer Michael Stidham sends out two in Solar Tap, second his last out at Delaware, and Astral Weeks, a son of Mohaymen who bears the same name as the celebrated album by Van Morrison. California Frolic was second by a head Sept. 25 for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. in his second career start. Never Say Know was a beaten favorite by a head last out for trainer Brendan Walsh. The son of No Nay Never will go out for the sixth time.

Friday’s races and sequence

• Leg One –Laurel Race 7: (12 entries, 6 furlongs) 3:40 ET, 12:40 PT
• Leg Two –Gulfstream Race 8: (10 entries, mile and 70 yards) 3:53 ET, 12:53 PT
• Leg Three –Laurel Race 8: (10 entries, 6 furlongs) 4:10 ET, 1:10 PT
• Leg Four – Golden Gate Race 2: (8 entries, 1 mile) 4:18 ET, 1:18 PT
• Leg Five –Gulfstream Race 9: (10 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.