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Friday, April 2: Frank Carulli's Stronach 5 Picks

by Frank Carulli

April 1, 2021

LEG A // GULFSTREAM, RACE 8 (4:50PM ET) // CLAIMING // 6 FURLONGS (DIRT)

FRANK ALONE dueled through solid fractions and held second, gets a favorable post switch and tries again at this level for a 25-percent trainer-jockey combo in the last year. I KICKN loomed boldly off a perfect stalking trip against the top one but hung in the stretch as the favorite.

LEG B // SANTA ANITA, RACE 3 (5:13PM ET) // CLAIMING // 6 FURLONGS (DIRT)

Going with the 'key race' angle in here. BLACK STORM won at this distance two starts back in a race that yielded two next-out winners and two runners-up. He has more wins at Santa Anita than the rest of the field combined. JAN'S RESERVE is 3-36 lifetime, but he finished second in 3 of his last 4 starts and the fourth and sixth-place finishers came back to win out of his most recent race.

LEG C // GULFSTREAM, RACE 9 (5:22PM ET) // MAIDEN CLAIMING // 1 MILE (TURF)

THREE AMIGOS (8-1) debuts for Walsh and his sire, Kendargent, produced 19 turf winners from 65 runners, several in stakes company. BLUE LOU BOYLE ran first-time tagged off a one-year layoff and battled throughout to just miss in a longer grass route. ASTROTURF chased a fast pace in a 5-horse MSW route at Tampa and finished third, now makes his third start as a 4yo.

LEG D // SANTA ANITA, RACE 4 (5:44PM ET) // CLAIMING // 6 FURLONGS (TURF)

ITALIANO starts fresh off O'Neill claim, returns to turf and gets plenty of pace to rally into at a big price. IAN GLASS was resilient in one-mile victory two back, gave way on the lead in a long sprint last out and must be used on the ticket. CASTLE rallied into a torrid pace, led briefly and held second off nearly a year layoff.

LEG E // GOLDEN GATE, RACE 4 (5:59PM ET) // MAIDEN CLAIMING // 1 MILE (TURF)

SPACE ODESSEY was outrun in a comeback $80k maiden claimer at Santa Anita, but the race winner ran a scare into the 3-to-5 winner in a follow-up allowance. STORMIN GALILELO tries turf after a pair of useful MSW sprints and could take some catching from the rail with Frey getting the mount. J C EXPRESS posted solid speed figures while no factor against Cal-bred MSW turf routers, then gained some confidence with a second-place finish in a $12,500 sprint.

SUGGESTED $1 TICKET

Leg A: 5, 8
Leg B: 1, 5
Leg C: 2, 3, 5
Leg D: 2, 3, 5
Leg E: 1, 2, 8

Cost: $108