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Saturday’s all-stakes Cross Country Pick 5 features races from Aqueduct Racetrack, Oaklawn Park and Tampa Bay Downs

by Keith McCalmont

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

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 kicks off at Tampa Bay Downs with the $150,000 Suncoast [Race 8, 3:49 p.m.], a one mile and 40 yard test for sophomore fillies offering 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the top-four finishers. A field of eight is led by Nest, a bay daughter of Curlin, who captured the Grade 2 Demoiselle last out at the Big A for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. Maiden winners Peaceful Surprise and Princess Elin will look to spring an upset.

Action switches to Aqueduct for the second leg featuring the $100,000 Gander [Race 8, 4:30 p.m.], a one-turn mile for New York-bred sophomores led by stakes winners Barese and Geno. Barese, undefeated in two starts, captured the Rego Park last out for trainer Mike Maker; while Geno enters from a neck score in the NYSSS Great White Way for conditioner David Donk. Impressive maiden winner Bold Journey, a half-brother to Grade 1-winning New York-bred Americanrevolution, will make his stakes debut for Hall of Famer Bill Mott.

A field of seven older fillies and mares line up in the middle leg in the Grade 3 Bayakoa [Race 8, 4:47] at Oaklawn, a 1 1/16-mile test led by the multiple graded stakes placed Coach for trainer Brad Cox. The 4-year-old Commissioner bay boasts a record of 5-2-1-1 at Oaklawn and will look to make the grade from the outermost post under Ricardo Santana, Jr.

The penultimate leg will see an overflow field of 13 sophomores square off in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis [Race 10, 4:54 p.m.], a 1 1/16-mile event offering 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-four finishers. A wide-open field includes a trio of contenders for Hall of Famer Mark Casse in graded stakes winner God of Love, two-time winner Golden Glider and maiden winner Volcanic. Steep opposition will be provided by the Grade 1-placed Classic Causeway for trainer Brian Lynch; undefeated multiple stakes winner Make It Big for Saffie Joseph, Jr.; and the multiple New York-bred stakes winner Shipsational for conditioner Edward Barker.

The sequence concludes with the Grade 3 Razorback [Race 10, 5:56] for older horses from Oaklawn as Lone Rock cuts back to 1 1/16 miles for the first time in eight starts for conditioner Robertino Diodoro. The multiple graded stakes winning son of Majestic Warrior won 7-of-9 starts last season, including scores in the 12-furlong Grade 2 Brooklyn at Belmont Park and the 13-furlong Grade 2 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at Del Mar. He will need to overcome the Cox-trained graded stakes winner Plainsman and the 9-year-old multiple graded stakes winner Rater R Superstar, who enters from a score in the Fifth Season at Oaklawn for trainer Federico Villafranco.

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 winter 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 winter meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

Cross Country Pick 5 – Saturday, February 12:

Leg A: Tampa - Race 8, $150K Suncoast (3:49 p.m.)

Leg B: Aqueduct - Race 8, $100K Gander (4:30 p.m.)

Leg C: Oaklawn - Race 8, G3 Bayakoa (4:47 p.m.)

Leg D: Tampa - Race 10, G3 Sam F. Davis (4:54 p.m.)

Leg E: Oaklawn - Race 10, G3 Razorback (5:56 p.m.)