Saturday's all-stakes Cross Country Pick 5 features racing from Aqueduct Racetrack and Oaklawn Park

by Mary Eddy

Free Equibase PPs available

The New York Racing Association Inc. (NYRA) will host an all-stakes Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday featuring action from Aqueduct Racetrack and Oaklawn 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.

Saturday’s sequence begins with Race 5 at 3:19 p.m. Eastern from Oaklawn Park, the $200,000 Carousel for older fillies and mares sprinting six furlongs. Multiple graded stakes-winner Frank’s Rockette has been installed as the 8-5 morning-line favorite after finishing a pacesetting second in the Grade 3 Sugar Swirl at Gulfstream Park for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. The daughter of Into Mischief won a pair of Grade 2’s in 2020, taking the Prioress at Saratoga Race Course and Gallant Bloom at Belmont Park as part of a five-win campaign.

Joy’s Rocket has been the bridesmaid in her last two outings, both at Oaklawn Park, beaten a neck in both the American Beauty on January 22 and an optional claimer on March 11. The Anthony’s Cross filly’s best performance came with a three-length victory in the Songbird in November 2020 at Keeneland.

The action switches to Aqueduct Racetrack for the $150,000 Excelsior [Race 8, 5:13 p.m.] featuring five older horses going nine furlongs over the main track. First Constitution will look to earn his second consecutive stakes victory after taking the nine-furlong Jazil last time out by 6 3/4 lengths for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher on January 22. A Chilean-bred son of Constitution, First Constitution has only finished off the board once in nine lifetime starts.

Multiple stakes-winner Forewarned enters off a close second in the John B. Campbell at Laurel Park that garnered a career-best 102 Beyer Speed Figure. The son of Flat Out won his first open-company stakes when taking the Queens County at odds of 42-1 on December 19 at the Big A.

The sequence moves back to Oaklawn Park for the remainder of the sequence in Race 9 [5:40 p.m.], the two-turn Grade 3 Oaklawn Mile for older horses. Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and St. Elias Stable’s Cezanne highlights a field of 10 in hopes of securing his second consecutive graded victory for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. The son of Curlin was last seen taking the Grade 2 San Carlos on March 5 at Santa Anita by 2 1/2 lengths.

Grade 1 winner and former Baffert trainee Roadster will make his second start for trainer Michael Stidham after he crossed the finish line fourth but was elevated to third via disqualification in the Polynesian at Laurel Park in September. The son of Quality Road won the 2019 Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby and has earned three other graded placings.

Eda headlines the penultimate leg [Race 10, 6:16 p.m.], the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Fantasy for sophomore fillies, which offers 100-40-20-10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the top-four finishers. Eda will look to build upon a four-race win streak that includes a last out victory in the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel and a Grade 1 triumph in the Starlet for Baffert.

Magic Circle, winner of the Busanda at the Big A on January 23, will continue her journey down the Road to the Kentucky Oaks under the care of Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen. Previously conditioned by Rudy Rodriguez, the daughter of Kantharos finished third in the Busher Invitational on March 5 and was third in the Grade 2 Demoiselle in her lone start against graded company. Other rivals include Grade 2-winner Dream Lith and graded stakes-placed Bubble Rock and Yuugiri.

The final leg features Grade 1 action in the Arkansas Derby [Race 12, 7:35 p.m.], which awards 100-40-20-10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-four finishers. Top filly Secret Oath makes her Grade 1 debut and will take on males to try and stamp her ticket to the Kentucky Derby for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. The Arrogate chestnut has won her past two starts by a combined 14 3/4-lengths, including a last-out romp in the Grade 3 Honeybee at Oaklawn.

Grade 2 Rebel-winner Un Ojo returns from his gritty half-length triumph for trainer Ricky Courville and owner Cypress Creek Equine. The New York-bred son of Laoban emerged as a Kentucky Derby hopeful when finishing second to Early Voting in the Grade 3 Withers at Aqueduct. Other foes include Grade 2 placed Doppleganger for trainer Tim Yakteen and impressive allowance winner We the People for trainer Rudolph Brisset.

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, which features a low 15 percent takeout, will continue each Saturday throughout the year.

America’s Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the spring meet at Aqueduct Racetrack on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the spring meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

Cross Country Pick 5 – Saturday, April 2:

Leg A: Oaklawn – Race 5, $200K Carousel (3:19 p.m. Eastern)

Leg B: Aqueduct – Race 8, $150K Excelsior (5:13 p.m.)

Leg C: Oaklawn – Race 9, Grade 3 Oaklawn Mile (5:40 p.m.)

Leg D: Oaklawn – Race 10, Grade 3 Fantasy (6:16 p.m.)

Leg E: Oaklawn – Race 12, Grade 1 Arkansas Derby (7:35 p.m.)