The stakes are always high for the Stronach 5, but they're higher for this Friday's cross-country wager with $76,000 in the carry-over pool. It only costs $1 to play and it all happens in less than 45 action-packed minutes, spanning four tracks. Here's an early look at Friday's races, with an update to follow after scratches.

LEG A // LAUREL, RACE 8 (4:40PM ET) // MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT // 7 FURLONGS (DIRT)

OUTKISSED swung 4-wide off a contested duel but couldn't get past the stubborn 2-1 pace setter in an otherwise promising debut at 5-1/2F. He is the son of Outwork, whose 2-year-old offspring are 27-163 (16%). CAMINERO should show good zip in his debut for Trombetta. His sire, Lord Nelson, won the 6F Bing Crosby at Del Mar in a stakes record 1:07.65 during an unprecedented Grade 1 three-peat.

LEG B // SANTA ANITA, RACE 3 (5:02PM ET) // MAIDEN CLAIMING // 6 FURLONGS (DIRT)

WHAT AN IDEA'S dam was a speedy, first-out runaway winner and $300k earner, while his only sibling also won in his debut by 7-1/2 lenghts. Prat rides for Miller, so he gets top call. MIDNIGHT SOMEWHERE dueled with Baffert-trained winner Sumo in MSW company before back-pedaling, but should last longer in this spot after a series of workouts since that race. DEVIL BE ME broke a step slow and never factored in a MSW sprint, but he finished behind a next-out, maiden $20k winner. 

LEG C // GULFSTREAM, RACE 9 (5:06PM ET) // CLAIMING // 1 1/16 MILES (DIRT)

This race belies the 'non-winner in six months' condition. The nine entrants are a combined 0-for-44 on turf this year. GRAN MALBEC, UHTRED and GOLDEN DECISION arrive off solid, runner-up finishes at this level, so a breakthrough victory by one of them appears imminent. But use late-running TIL THE END on the ticket, as well as KATIE'S COWBOY, who steps up in class and stretches out for connections that are 6-26 at the current meet. 

LEG D // LAUREL, RACE 9 (5:12PM ET) // OPTIONAL CLAIMING // 5 1/2 FURLONGS (TURF)

Trainer Frank Russo shipped in back-to-back winners from Monmouth on the October 10 Laurel Park card. He returns with longshot UNPRECEDENTED, who finished in the money in 3 of his last 5 short sprints on the grass, all at different tracks. One of Russo's runners, Belgrano, defeated odds-on NOBLE COMMANDER, who dueled and gave way in the six-horse field but has license to go non-stop in this spot. CHARMED could sit an identical trip to his victory with first-time Lasix last out. He stalked speedy repeat winner High Limit Room, angled out at the top of the stretch and won going away. That performance got upgraded when High Limit Room came back with a 4-1/2-length allowance victory.

LEG E // GOLDEN GATE, RACE 3 (5:20PM ET) // STARTER ALLOWANCE // 1 1/16 MILES (ALL WEATHER)

IZ INVINCIBLE raced in-hand until the 3/4-mile mark, was blocked behind a wall of horses on the final turn and made a late surge at BABY FRANKIE, who got the jump on him. He can turn the tables in here with a livelier pace flow, too. RIDEO starts fresh for a 34-percent barn and, like many of these, simply loves to win. He notched two victories at one mile on the Golden Gate main track early in the year when he last raced on it.
 

STRONACH 5 TICKET

Leg A: 5, 6
Leg B: 1, 4, 6
Leg C: 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 
Leg D: 1, 2, 4
Leg E: 2, 4

Cost for a $1 ticket: $180