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Frank Carulli: Stronach 5 Analysis | Friday, April 15, 2022

by Frank Carulli

April 14, 2022

 

The Stronach 5 will go to the post this Friday with an added stipulation: if no one picks all five winners, those with four will share in a mandatory payout. One bettor solved the cross-county wager last week, taking home $89,498 after three of the winners went off at 11-1, 12-1 and 23-1. All it costs is $1 to play and the results will be official in just over an hour. Here’s a look at this week’s slate, with an update to follow Friday after scratches:

LEG A: (Laurel Park, race 8, 4:40 EST) -- FLY ME HOME is the logical choice, setting the pace in an 11-horse, turf-to-dirt debut sprint before tiring to finish third. Her dam was a Grade II winner on the grass. But use a couple longshots on the ticket, too. DETERMINED HOPE is working forwardly for her 3-year-old debut after she showed some late foot as a 2-year-old in turf sprints dotted with next-out winners. COVERED BRIDGES, a $63,000 purchase, ships in for Charles Town-based trainer Ollie Figgins III, who has done well with first-time starters during a 14-year run in which the stable topped $1 million in earnings 12 times.

LEG B: (Gulfstream Park, race 8, 4:52 EST) -- UNIFIED CONQUEST benefited from a 3-way duel on the front end but caught the eye nonetheless with a furious rally to win in his first start at 5F. PURE SPEIGHT survived the aforementioned duel, sprinted clear in the stretch and tired late. He sheds the blinkers for a good claim barn.

LEG C: (Santa Anita, race 3, 5:07 EST) -- With four first-time starters and four other fillies and mares who posted Beyer speed figures between 50-56 in their lone start, go deep in this MSW sprint for California breds.

LEG D: (Golden Gate, race 3, 5:21 EST) -- PUSH THROUGH rallied for two seconds and a third in his last four one-mile races on the Golden Gate main track and he projects an ideal stalking trip from the rail in his second start for top trainer Jonathan Wong. ARCH PRINCE also benefits from a projected lively pace as he seeks his fourth photo-finish route victory in his last six starts.

LEG E: (Laurel Park, race 10, 5:44 EST) -- TEXAS TOWER gets Lasix and gets in light-weighted for a high percentage new acquisition barn after a troubled debut at Aqueduct. UNCLE JEROME took late money but rallied too late at one mile to finish second as the favorite.

Suggested $1 Ticket

Leg A: 4, 6, 11
Leg B: 2, 7
Leg C: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8
Leg D: 1, 4
Leg E: 3, 6

COST: $168