How to play the Pick 5

Leg A: Laurel, 9th Maidens kick off Friday’s Stronach 5 sequence in Laurel’s ninth and final race, a six-furlong contest in which Bunting (3) seems the most likely winner. Fourth in his debut Feb. 10, in which he outperformed several rivals that also return in this spot, he then came back to just miss Feb. 24 when second, beaten a head against maiden $50,000 stock. He has speed, quality form, and a winning rider aboard. Expected to offer more mutuel value and worthy of inclusion in the Stronach 5 are Zircon Zloty (8) and Reigning Fire (7). The former, outrun in his only race, has recovered several bullet drills at Fair Hill, hinting of the potential for improvement, and the latter has faced better and may appreciate a cutback in distance.

Leg B: Gulfstream, 9th

Just two horses go on the Stronach 5 tickets for the second leg: Dance Proudly (9) and Tenacity Zip (4). Both horses fit nicely against $16,000 claimers going five eighths on the grass. Dance Proudly just won at the level last out on Dec. 27, while Tenacity Zip is dropping in class after being outrun in tougher starters in recent months.

Leg C: Golden Gate, 5th

Southern California invaders Equal Measure (6) and Ladymidtown (11) appear to hold a talent edge in Golden Gate’s fifth race, a straight maiden contest at 1 1/16 miles. Equal Measure has run second in all three of her starts, even doing so in her latest when matched against winners in a starter allowance at Santa Anita Feb. 7. The great unknown is how she will handle the shift to race on a synthetic surface, having been managed as a dirt horse to this point. Ladymidtown does not possess any synthetic form, either, but has raced on turf, and such types are more prone to making a successful transition to synthetic. She will race with blinkers for the first time after an uninspired fifth at Santa Anita Jan. 21.

Leg D: Gulfstream, 10th

14 horses were entered in Gulfstream’s 10th race, three of which seem a bit better than the rest. In order of preference, they are Vaughan (3), Starship Taxi (5), and Accountant Q (6) – though there is little separating the trio. Hopefully using just these three is enough. This is the kind of low-quality maiden claimer where just about anything could happen.

Leg E: Golden Gate, 6th

Last up is a starter allowance from Golden Gate, a race that suits Oracle of Omaha (6). Twice fourth in starters on dirt at Santa Anita, he should benefit

from facing what seems to be a softer group at Golden Gate. He is unraced on synthetic, but has already shown the versatility to handle both turf and dirt. If he falters in his first try at Golden Gate, locals Mr. Diplomat (5) and Eighty Proof (9) look poised to capitalize. The former just won a straight maiden race and seems to be improving and the latter has twice been second in as many attempts vs. similar opposition this year.

The Ticket

A $1 Stronach 5-play using the horses noted above – 3,7,8 with 4,9 with 6,11 with 3,5,6 with 5,6,9 – costs $108.