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NYRA partners with Oaklawn Park and Turfway Park for Cross Country Pick 5

by Najja Thompson

Free Equibase PPs now available for the Cross Country Pick 5

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will partner with Oaklawn Park and Turfway Park to host a Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday, highlighted by the Grade 2, $1 million Rebel in Hot Springs, Arkansas and the Grade 3, $250,000 Jeff Ruby from Turfway Park.

Free Equibase past performances for the Cross Country Pick 5 sequence are now available for download at https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/cross-country-wagers.

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

The sequence begins in Race 9 (5:35p.m. Eastern) from Aqueduct Racetrack with a maiden special weight for 3-year-old New York-bred fillies. Drawing a full field of 11, conditioner Linda Rice will saddle Honey Money for owners Darlene Bilinski and Harry Patten, who looks to improve after finishing second in her debut on February 22 at the Big A.

The action will then switch to Turfway Park (Race 10, 5:55 p.m.) for the one-mile Bourbonette Oaks for 3-year-old fillies, a Kentucky Oaks qualifying race offering 20-8-4-2 points to the first four finishers. A field of 12 is led by Laura's Light, shipping in from California for owner Gary Barber and trainer Peter Miller, who will be in search of her third consecutive victory while switching surfaces following a victory on the turf in the Grade 3 Sweet Life on February 16 at Santa Anita Park.

The Cross Country Pick 5 continues in Race 10 at Oaklawn (6:23 p.m.) with the $1 million Rebel, a Kentucky Derby prep race drawing a field of eight with 50-20-10-5 points for the first four finishers. Hall of Fame conditioner Steve Asmussen entered three contenders inncluding Basin for Jackpot Farm, who makes his first start of the season after winning the Grade 1 Runhappy Hopeful at Saratoga Race Course as a juvenile; Ed and Susie Orr 's Silver Prospector who captured the Grade 3 Southwest at Oaklawn on February 17; and Excession for Calumet Farm who will look to rebound off an eighth-place finish in the Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds on February 15.

The penultimate leg returns to Turfway for the Jeff Ruby (Race 12, 6:42 p.m.) for 3-year-olds. The Kentucky Derby prep race draws has drawn a field of 12 with trainer Wesley Ward entering Invader for owners Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stables, and LNJ Foxwoods. The War Front colt, listed at odds of 7-2 on the morning-line, will look to win his third consecutive race and is 2-for-2 at Turfway including a score in the John Battaglia on February 14.

Closing out the Cross Country Pick 5 is a maiden special weight race from Oaklawn, a six-furlong sprint featuring a 12-horse field. Cynical Girl for conditioner McLean Roberson and owners Zack Ames and John Mentz will look to improve in her third start coming in off a second-place finish on February 29.

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

Cross Country Pick 5 - Saturday, March 14:

Leg 1 - Aqueduct, Race 9: $60,000, Maiden Special Weight (5:35 p.m.)

Leg 2 - Turfway Park, Race 10: $150,000 Bourbonette Oaks (5:55 p.m.)

Leg 3 - Oaklawn, Race 10, Grade 2, $1 million Rebel (6:23 p.m.)

Leg 4 - Turfway, Race 11, Grade 3, $250,000 Jeff Ruby (6:42 p.m.)

Leg 5 - Oaklawn, Race 11, $87,000 Maiden Special Weight (6:55 p.m.)