Saturday’s all-graded stakes Cross Country Pick 5 to feature Aqueduct Racetrack and Keeneland

by Mary Eddy

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

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 sequence begins in Race 8 at Keeneland [4:30 p.m. Eastern] with the Grade 2 Shakertown for 3-year-olds and upward sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf. The field of 11 is led by Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Golden Pal, who will be making his 4-year-old debut for trainer Wesley Ward. The son of Uncle Mo and graded stakes winner Lady Shipman was also the winner of the 2020 Grade 2 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

Steep opposition will be provided by The Lir Jet, who also makes his 4-year-old debut for trainer Brendan Walsh. The bay gelding was last seen taking down the Grade 2 Franklin-Simpson at Kentucky Downs to close out his sophomore campaign.

Multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Diamond Oops will return to turf after he finished fourth behind Speaker’s Corner in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile last out on March 5. Trained by Patrick Biancone, Diamond Oops last visited the winner’s circle in June 2021 when he won a handicap at Gulfstream.

The action moves to Aqueduct for the second leg in Race 8 at 4:45 p.m., the Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino, a 100-40-20-10 qualifier for the Kentucky Derby. Eight sophomores will attempt to punch their ticket to Louisville with a trio of them hoping to keep a perfect record intact.

The Steve Asmussen-trained Morello has won two stakes races at the Big A, most recently stretching out to take the one-mile Grade 3 Gotham on March 5 in his graded stakes debut. Trainer Chad Brown sends out Early Voting after a professional last-out win in the Grade 3 Withers on February 5 while trainer Mike Maker hopes the New York-bred Barese can pass the open-company test after two state-bred stakes victories at the Big A.

The middle leg will see 12 more Kentucky Derby hopefuls vie for 100-40-20-10 points in the Grade 1 Blue Grass in Race 9 [5:10 p.m.] at Keeneland. Lucky Seven Stable’s Smile Happy will have to overcome a wide post in his quest for redemption after he suffered his first career defeat last time out in the Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds for trainer Ken McPeek.

To his inside, he faces a formidable challenge from Grade 2 Rebel runner-up Ethereal Road for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas and from his Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity-winning stablemate Rattle N Roll. The field also includes Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby runner-up Grantham and El Camino Real Derby winner Blackadder.

The sequence switches back to the Big A for the final two legs, starting with the Grade 1 Carter Handicap presented by NYRA Bets in Race 9 [5:21 p.m.]. Dual Grade 1 winner Mind Control makes his 6-year-old debut for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher after a fever forced him to miss a start in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile in November. He was last seen giving a gutsy performance in the Parx Dirt Mile in September where he bested fellow Grade 1 winner Silver State by a head.

Mind Control will face seven opponents, including the improving Green Light Go for trainer Jimmy Jerkens. The 5-year-old son of Hard Spun won the Grade 2 Saratoga Special as a juvenile and won his first stakes since when he took the Stymie at the Big A on February 26. Speaker’s Corner, trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, also seeks to build on a last-out dominant win in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile on March 5.

The final leg features Race 10 [5:55 p.m.] from the Big A, the Grade 3 Gazelle for sophomore fillies competing for 100-40-20-10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points. Multiple stakes winner Venti Valentine returns to graded company after a convincing win in the Busher Invitational last out for trainer Jorge Abreu on March 5. The daughter of Firing Line finished second in her lone start at the graded level, defeated a neck by Nest in the Grade 2 Demoiselle on December 4 at the Big A.

Venti Valentine will face the imposing Classy Edition, whose only career defeat came last time out with a loss to impressive next-out Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks winner Kathleen O. in the Grade 2 Davona Dale on March 5 at Gulfstream. Also featured are stakes-placed fillies Morning Matcha and Shotgun Hottie.

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 9:

Leg A: Keeneland – Race 8, Grade 2 Shakertown (4:30 p.m. Eastern)

Leg B: Aqueduct – Race 8, Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino (4:45 p.m.)

Leg C: Keeneland – Race 9, Grade 1 Blue Grass (5:10 p.m.)

Leg D: Aqueduct – Race 9, Grade 1 Carter Handicap presented by NYRA Bets (5:21 p.m.)

Leg E: Aqueduct – Race 10, Grade 3 Gazelle (5:55 p.m.)