If your handicapping can go the distance, you can unlock this week’s Stronach 5. The $1 wager spans five tracks nationwide, but three of the races in the 62-minute sequence are maiden claiming routes at Laurel Park, Santa Anita and Golden Gate, respectively. Here’s a look at this week’s action, with an update to follow Friday after scratches:
LEG A: (Laurel Park, race 9, 4:56 EST) -- UNCLE JEROME found the proper level in his first start this year, stalked the pace 3-wide, then ‘fought to mid-stretch’ and ran third. ORO GRIS met next-out winners in his first two starts, earned his top speed figure for a higher tag last out and is worth using as a longshot.
LEG B: (Santa Anita, race 3, 5:07 EST) -- With four, six-figure turf earners in a field that is a combined 94/19-14-18 on the grass, go deep in Leg B of the Stronach 5.
LEG C: (Gulfstream Park, race 9, 5:16 EST) -- Good recent and long-distance form abounds in this starter allowance. YAMATO rallied for back-to-back wins on Gulfstream’s synthetic track and CONGLOMERATE arrives with three wins in a row, the latest with a 5-wide surge at 8-1 odds. STRIKE TO THE TOP got first run on both rivals to loom boldly at the stretch call but weakened late in both races.
LEG D: (Santa Anita, race 4, 5:43 EST) -- MO CONNELLY gave way after a backstretch-long duel with the winner in her first route try, but she held second and now makes her third start as a 3-year-old. HARDDIANE exited a double key race two back, finished an even third in a faster-paced mile, now returns at the same level off a pair of solid workouts.
LEG E: (Golden Gate, race 3, 5:58 EST) -- TAM TRICKY stretches out to a new distance for all nine entrants, finished in the money behind proven rivals Dress Rehearsal (4-10, $211k) and Bonito Leon (next-out $25k/2L runner-up) and looms a forward factor from the rail at a good price in her first start on turf. ZAFFERANA has run mostly in Maiden Special Weight company, finished fourth behind next-out repeater Bellamore (5/2-2-0, $69k) and her dam, Old Topper, was an accomplished graded stakes route runner, albeit on the main track.
Suggested $1 Ticket
Leg A: 1, 10
Leg B: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7
Leg C: 1, 3, 6
Leg D: 2, 4
Leg E: 1, 8
COST: $120
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