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Aqueduct offers year’s first Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday

by Brian Bohl

Free Equibase PPs available

The first Cross Country Pick 5 of 2021 will feature action from Aqueduct Racetrack, Oaklawn Park and Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday as part of the wager hosted by the New York Racing Association, Inc.

Live coverage will be available with America’s Day at the Races on FOX Sports. Free Equibase past performances for the Cross Country Pick 5 sequence are now available for download at https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/cross-country-wagers.

The Big A will commence the action with a nine-furlong allowance tilt for 4-year-olds and up in Race 8 at 3:50 p.m. Eastern. Stakes-winner Chestertown, trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, is the 8-5 morning-line favorite for the eight-horse field, looking to build on a win last out in December at Aqueduct. Chestertown won the Albany in September at Saratoga Race Course.

Oaklawn will then host the first of its three total races in the sequence when a full field of sophomores will be seeking their respective first career victories in a six-furlong maiden sprint in Race 5 at 4:06 p.m. Outasite, conditioned by Brad Cox and making his third career start, will try to show the form that made the Outwork colt a $380,000 purchase at the 2020 OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.

Tampa Bay will get in on the action with its 10th race finale, a one-mile turf test for 3-year-old maidens, at 4:52 p.m. The Ontario-bred Thru the Vine, trained by Graham Motion for owner-breeder Sam-Son Farm, will make his first career start as part of a 10-horse field.

Oaklawn will host the concluding two races, with an 11-horse field competing in a wide open six furlong allowance sprint in Race 7 at 5:09 p.m. The Cross Country Pick 5’s lone stakes will be the last leg, as 12 fillies and mares 4-years-old and up will contest the one-mile $150,000 Pippin in Race 8 at 5:47 p.m. Asmussen will send out Wicked Whisper, winner of the Grade 3 Miss Preakness on October 3 at Pimlico, while Tom Amoss trainee Figure It Out returns to stakes company after posting a New Year’s Day allowance win at Fair Grounds. Regal Beauty, 3-3-1 in nine career starts for trainer Bret Calhoun, and Our Super Freak for trainer Cherie DeVaux comprise a salty field.

The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is also available on ADW platforms and at simulcast facilities across the country. Every week will feature a mandatory payout of the net pool.

The Cross Country Pick 5 will continue each Saturday throughout the year. For more information, visit NYRABets.com.

Cross Country Pick 5 - Saturday, January 23: 

Leg 1 – Aqueduct, Race 8: (3:50 p.m.)
Leg 2 – Oaklawn, Race 5: (4:06 p.m.)
Leg 3 – Tampa Bay, Race 10: (4:52 p.m.)
Leg 4 – Oaklawn, Race 7: (5:13 p.m.)
Leg 5 – Oaklawn, Race 8 - $150,000 Pippin: (5:47 p.m.)