We’re going to try something a little bit different today, and that is take a stab at the Stronach Pick 5. This is a multi-race, multi-track wager with $1 minimum, a guaranteed $100,000 pool, and a player-friendly 12% takeout rate. The races go off in quick succession, with the first leg at 4:35 pm, and the fifth leg at 5:45 pm (all times are Eastern). When playing a Pick 4 or Pick 5 at a single track, a bettor typically has to wait several hours for the races to play out, but these five races go off in just 80 minutes, and at a cocktail-friendly time of day to boot.
The races in the sequence are as follows:
Laurel Park, Race 8
Gulfstream Park, Race 10
Santa Anita Park, Race 3
Laurel Park, Race 10
Golden Gate Fields, Race 5
Here is how we see the races:
The 8th at Laurel is an allowance/optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. The race has “pace meltdown” written all over it, so we are throwing out the speed horses, all of them, and playing the closers. They are 1-Wildcat Cartridge, 3-Kailee, 6-Dolores Westworld, and 8-No Mo Lady. We will use all four.
The 10th at Gulfstream is a Maiden Special Weight for females at 5 furlongs on the grass. We are singling 12-Fuddled: this Saffie Joseph trainee just missed in an identical spot on March 27, losing a 5 furlong maiden race by a neck. We do not think she will miss today, and will single her.
Race 3 at Santa Anita is a $50,000 claimer at a mile on the turf. We like the favorite, 8-Going to Vegas, but we also like 3-A Thousand Dreams. We think one of them will win, and will use both.
The fourth leg in the sequence is the 10th at Laurel, a $25,000 maiden claimer at 5½ furlongs on the grass. In a fairly wide open race, we will use three runners: 2-Kukulkan, 6-Eagle Keeper, and 11-Rarely.
Race 5 at Golden Gate is a Maiden Special Weight affair at 5 furlongs on Golden Gate’s synthetic racing surface. We are spreading wide, including four: 2-Colavito, 7-Sale’ Y Vale, 8-Ahimaaz, and 10-Brony Boy.
That makes the play as follows:
Stronach Pick 5: 1,3,6,8 with 12 with 3,8 with 2,6,11 with 2,7,8,10
This ticket will cost $96 at the $1 base wager level, which is what we will play.
That’s all for today. We will be back tomorrow for a look at the national stakes action. Until then, enjoy the racing, be safe, and, as always, good luck at the windows.