Horse racing continues to take place daily during the coronavirus pandemic, and on Friday the Kathleen O'Connell-trained Solid as a Rock will try to win for the third time in her career when she leaves the starting gate in an optional-claiming race at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla. This 3-year-old daughter of Khozan has two wins and one third in five career starts. She has been installed as the 7-2 morning-line favorite in Race 8, a five-furlong turf sprint that drew 13 entrants. The race is the first leg of the Stronach 5, which requires a bettor to pick the winner in five consecutive races from tracks across the country. 

The Stronach 5 begins at 3:41 p.m. ET and ends with Race 3 at Santa Anita Park. National handicapping champion Jonathon Kinchen has evaluated each of the five races in the Stronach 5, and, with the sequence featuring competitive fields, you'll want to see his horse racing predictions and best bets before making any Stronach 5 picks for Friday, June 19.

Kinchen is one of the nation's most successful and recognizable horseplayers. An analyst for Fox Sports' America's Day at the Races and co-host of the In the Money Players' Podcast, Kinchen won the National Horseplayers Championship Tour in 2015, a demanding, yearlong series of handicapping events across the country. That same year, he became the only player in history to have both of his entries qualify for the final table of the National Horseplayers Championship.

In addition, Kinchen has scored huge on some of racing's biggest days. At the 2015 Kentucky Derby, he cashed for $150,000 after nailing a Pick 6 and a cold Pick 3 that paid $50,000.

He's currently riding a hot streak on his horse racing picks for SportsLine. In the Fountain of Youth Stakes in February, Kinchen nailed an $80 win bet on Ete Indien that paid a healthy $344. In the Beholder Mile in March, he gave out a $50 exacta that paid $550. In the Apple Blossom Handicap, he nailed a $25 win bet on Ce Ce, which paid $245. On April 11, he crushed the Oaklawn Stakes, giving out a $5 exacta that paid a whopping $1,338. On May 27 he hit a $1.50 Pick 4 at Tampa Bay Downs that paid $1,227. He also hit the Pick 4 at tracks around the country a whopping five times in April. Anyone who has followed him has seen some huge returns 

Now, Kinchen has scoured the Friday races in the Stronach 5, found his best bets and constructed his tickets. He's only sharing them here.

Top horse racing predictions for June 19

Kinchen is high on Tiberius Mercurius, the 5-2 favorite in Race 3 at Santa Anita, the final leg of the Stronach 5. This 4-year-old son of The Factor has three seconds and two thirds in seven career starts. He last raced on Nov. 16, finishing second in a maiden special at Aqueduct.

He'll be making his first start for trainer John Sadler and his first start on the West Coast. "There's a chance that Tiberius Mercurius will find the West Coast turf horses much more to his liking than the East Coast turf horses he has faced in his career," Kinchen tells SportsLine. 

Kinchen also is high on Apache Brave, a 7-2 shot in Race 9 at Gulfstream Park. This 6-year-old son of Kantharos has three wins, five seconds and two thirds in 28 starts. He is coming off a seventh-place finish on May 29.

Apache Brave makes his third start for Averil Racing and trainer Georgina Baxter. "He ran fast two starts ago but had a terrible trip in his next start," Kinchen said. 

How to make horse racing picks for June 19

In addition Kinchen is high on a long shot at Laurel Park on Friday. This horse "ran well last time, closing into a slow pace after missing the break" and could spice up the Stronach 5. He's sharing his best bets only at SportsLine.

How has Kinchen structured his Stronach 5 tickets for Friday? And which long shot can win at a big price? Visit SportsLine to see Kinchen's picks for the Stronach 5 on Friday, and find out.