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Friday, December 18: Stronach 5 Picks & Analysis

by Frank Carulli

December 17, 2020

LEG A: (Laurel Park, 8th race): TRUNK OF MONEY blazed to a 1:09.3 victory and held off the deep closers to prevail. She was entered for a claiming price in her last two starts and remains eligible for this 2X allowance in a three-peat bid. CONJECTURE, 36/8-10-5 on the main track and going well since Gonzalez claim, cuts back off wide and willing long sprint try.

LEG B: (Gulfstream Park, 8th race): Five runners arrive off wins with Beyer speed figures in the 60s and filly Sweet Pearl has proven herself in two starts against the boys. The result: hit the ALL button.

LEG C: (Laurel Park, 9th race): ITGOT GRANDMA raced in-hand until the stretch and got got caught late off the Magee re-claim. He should be in control throughout in his second start after three months away.

LEG D: (Gulfstream, 9th race): DON'T BLAME JUDY starts fresh for a new barn and her ability belies her 2-25 record. She finished in the money in turf routes in California against the likes of multiple stakes winners Cordiality (12-34, $632k) and Dogtag, Grade 2-placed Harmless and Opus One (4-10, $213k). STONE TORNADO, a proven miler overseas, just missed in the same spot in her second U.S. start at Belmont. She faced a next-out, stakes-placed rival in that race and eventual graded stakes-placed Traipsing when she ran longer in her follow-up start.

LEG E: (Gulfstream, 10th race): CREATE A STORY gave way chasing next-out repeater Could You (3-7, $55k) and drops in claiming price off Hess claim. GITANA broke her maiden at 6F for $25k two back and could take some catching from the rail. BIRD MAP, a $50k claim in April, takes all-or-nothing type plunge for top barn. GALIT JAK romped off a longer layoff than this and worked :47.3 breezing for return.

Stronach 5 Selections:

LEG A: 8,10
LEG B: ALL
LEG C: 6
LEG D: 2,3
LEG E: 1, 2, 4, 9

Cost for $1 ticket: $128