How to play the Pick 5

Leg A: Gulfstream, 10th

Friday’s Stronach 5 kicks off in Florida with a $16,000 nonwinners-of-two claimer on the grass, the type of race in which four horses seem a bit more likely to win than the rest of the field. Somewhat preferred is BLASPHEMY (11), who finished third against similar Dec. 2 after a slow start. He acts like one of the classiest runners in the field and picks up Luis Saez, though a poor draw in post 11 leaves him in danger of a wide trip. SOMETHING BIRD (9), PANAMA PAPERS (12) and AL TAWEEL (4) also rate as contenders. SOMETHIRD BIRD and PANAMA PAPERS have a poor ratio of wins to starts, but possess adequate turf form, while AL TAWEEL, is a wake-up candidate with a shift from dirt to grass, on which he ran competitively over the summer at Ellis Park.

Leg B: Gulfstream Park, 11th

Another grass race follows at Gulfstream, this one for maiden $20,000 claimers, and using four horses is again the strategy. MESA MADEIRA (1) gets a slight edge, coming off a runner-up finish and benefiting from an inside draw that may result in her receiving a favorable trip, but horseplayers are advised to also use NARROWS BRIDGE (8), BALLY SQUALL (4) and COURTESY NOTICE (2) – three other horses that seem roughly equivalent based on form and accomplishments.

Leg C: Golden Gate, 4th

Maiden $5,000 horses sprinting five furlongs follow next at Golden Gate, and the short distance would appear to give an advantage to speed horses HARLEY’S PRIDE (5) and OUREAGLEHASLANDED (7). The former is in the third start of his current form cycle and is appealing on the drop from maiden $12,500 company, and the latter has proven a regular factor at Golden Gate, having run within three lengths or less of the winner in his last three races.

Leg D: Santa Anita, 5th

From Golden Gate to Santa Anita we go for the fourth leg, a $12,500 claimer for nonwinners-of-two types. There, ONE UPPER (10) and DESIRED EDGE (6) possess the form and speed to suggest they are a cut above the others. ONE UPPER, a last-out maiden winner in her sixth start, is the leader in terms of speed figures, while DESIRED EDGE has experience vs. winners and seems likely to benefit from dropping a class level.

Leg E: Santa Anita, 6th

Last up is a second-level allowance on the Santa Anita grass, and this seems the time to take a stand with a single: YA GOTTA WANNA (3). Exiting four straight stakes, three of them graded, he should relish facing easier competition. He also returns to a Santa Anita course on which he is three for six.

The Ticket

A $1 Stronach 5-play using the horses noted above – 4,9,11,12 with 1,2,4,8 with 5,7 with 6,10 with 3 – costs $64.