NYRA partners with Oaklawn to offer Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday

by NYRA Press Office

Saturday's Inter track wager highlighted by Grade 3 Withers and Martha Washington

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will team up with Oaklawn Park on Saturday, February 2, to offer the Cross Country Pick 5 highlighted by the Grade 3, $250,000 Withers from Aqueduct Racetrack and the $125,000 Martha Washington from Oaklawn Park.

The latest in NYRA's Cross Country offerings, Saturday's inaugural Cross Country Pick 5 will include two stakes between Aqueduct and Oaklawn, kicking off with the Withers from Aqueduct (Race 9, 4:30 p.m.), a Kentucky Derby prep offering 10-4-2-1 qualifying points for the "Run for the Roses" on May 4 at Churchill Downs.

Live coverage and analysis of each leg, including both the Withers and Martha Washington, will be broadcast live on FOX Sports Saturday At The Races from 4-6:30 p.m., airing on FS2, and produced by NYRA.

Hosted by NYRA, the Cross Country Pick 5, offering a low 15 percent takeout and $0.50 minimum base wager, will also include Race 6 (4:52 p.m.) from Oaklawn Park featuring a full field of $30,000 claimers; Race 10 (4:58 p.m.) from the Big A, a field of 13 sprinters; Race 7 (5:25 p.m.) from Oaklawn, a contentious allowance optional claiming route; and concludes with the Martha Washington (Race 8, 5:55 p.m.), a one-mile event for sophomore fillies.

Saturday's Cross Country Pick 5 is the first of a month-long series that will see the multi-race wagering challenge move to Tampa Bay Downs on February 9 for the lucrative Grade 3 Sam F. Davis card in conjunction with the Jimmy Winkfield at the Big A.

The Cross Country Pick 5 will return to Oaklawn on February 18 for the Grade 3, $500,000 Razorback Handicap card, with the $100,000 Hollie Hughes slated as the Aqueduct feature on President's Day.

The series concludes on February 23 with an Aqueduct-Oaklawn Cross Country Pick 5, offering a sequence of the most challenging wagering puzzles from the Franklin Square card at the Big A and the Downthedustyroad Breeders' card from Oaklawn.

The 139th running of the Withers, at 1 1/8 miles on the Aqueduct main track, will see trainer Mark Casse send out a pair of contenders in Our Braintrust and Sir Winston to tackle Danny Gargan's 2-1 morning line favorite Tax and the well-regarded Todd Pletcher trainee Moretti. A talented field of seven Kentucky Derby hopefuls includes Dale Romans' charge Admire, Lucky Lee for conditioner John Servis and recent Damon Runyon winner Not That Brady for trainer Rudy Rodriguez.

Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is available through NYRA Bets, on track, ADW platforms, and at simulcast facilities across the country. For more information on the Cross Country Pick 5, please visit NYRA.com/CrossCountry.

Aqueduct Racetrack / Oaklawn Park Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday, February 2:
Leg 1: Aqueduct, Race 9: Grade 3, $250,000 Withers (4:30 pm)
Leg 2: Oaklawn Park, Race 6 (4:52 pm)
Leg 3: Aqueduct, Race 10 (4:58 pm)
Leg 4: Oaklawn Park, Race 7 (5:25 pm)
Leg 5: Oaklawn Park, Race 8: $125,000 Martha Washington (5:55 pm)