NYRA/Coglianese Photo

Saturday to feature Cross Country Pick 5 with Keeneland and Oaklawn Park

by Brian Bohl

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will host a Cross Country Pick 5 with Oaklawn Park and Keeneland on Saturday, featuring the opening leg at Aqueduct Racetrack and including the Grade 3, $200,000 Lexington and the Grade 1, $350,000 Jenny Wiley at Keeneland and ending with the Grade 2, $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap and the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby.

Saturday's Cross Country Pick 5 will kick off with Race 8 at Aqueduct, the 78th running of the Top Flight Invitational Handicap, with a 5:21 p.m. ET post time. A talented field featuring My Miss Lilly, Midnight Disguise and Forever Liesl will compete in the 1 1/8-mile route on the Big A main track.

The next two legs will switch to Keeneland, starting with the 38th running of the Lexington for 3-year-olds at 5:30 p.m. in Race 9. The 1 1/16-mile Lexington, featuring Sueno, Anothertwistafate and Harvey Wallbanger, offers 20-8-4-2 qualifying points towards the Kentucky Derby. The third leg in the Cross Country Pick 5, the 31st running of the Jenny Wiley, will feature multiple Grade 1-winner Rushing Fall taking on an eight-horse field over 8 ½ furlongs on the turf at 6:03 p.m.

Action will then switch to Oaklawn for the fourth and fifth legs. The Oaklawn Handicap for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles will see a talented nine-horse field that features a pair of entrants trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen in Tenfold and Lookin At Lee, with a post time of 6:22 p.m. 

The Cross Country Pick 5 finale will then showcase the Kentucky Derby-prep Arkansas Derby which offers 100-40-20-10 qualifying points, featuring a million dollar purse with 11 entrants, including Grade 2 Rebel winner Omaha Beach, traveling 1 1/8 miles with a 7:43 p.m. first post.

Both the Top Flight and Oaklawn Handicap will feature live on FOX Sports Saturday At The Races, which airs 5 - 6:30 p.m ET on FS2 and MSG+.

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. There will be a mandatory payout of the entire pool.

Aqueduct - Oaklawn Park - Keeneland Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday, April 13:

Leg 1 - Aqueduct Racetrack, Race 8: Top Flight Invitational Handicap (5:21 p.m. ET)

Leg 2 - Keeneland, Race 9: Grade 3 Lexington (5:30 p.m.)

Leg 3 - Keeneland, Race 10: Grade 1 Jenny Wiley (6:03 p.m.)

Leg 4 - Oaklawn Park, Race 9: Oaklawn Handicap (6:22 p.m.)

Leg 5 - Oaklawn Park, Race 11: Grade 1 Arkansas Derby (7:43 p.m.)