Saturday’s Cross Country Pick 5 features action at the Big A and Tampa Bay Downs

by Ryan Martin

Free Equibase PPs available 

The New York Racing Association will host a Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday featuring racing action from Aqueduct Racetrack and Tampa Bay Downs.

Live coverage will be available with America’s Day at the Races on FOX Sports. 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.

A field of eight sophomores seeking a first career win get things started in Race 5 at Aqueduct with a scheduled post time of 3:20 p.m. Eastern. Harrell Ventures’ Good Culture looks to make his career debut a winning one for trainer George Weaver. The son of Anchor Down is out of the Kodiak Kowboy mare Lady Fifty Two – a half-sister to Grade 1-winner Lady of Fifty. Trainer Jonathan Thomas will saddle million dollar-purchase Will E Sutton in hopes for a successful second start. Last out, the son of Curlin out of stakes-placed Yes Liz was fourth going seven furlongs on February 8 at the Big A.

Action shifts to Tampa Bay Downs for the second leg, where a field of ten will assemble over the main track for a $5,000 tag. Leading Tampa Bay trainer Gerald Bennett sends out Malio’s, who seeks a career fifth lifetime victory over the Oldsmar oval. Larry Cronin and Joseph Keenan’s Irish Major was second beaten a length under the same conditions last out and seeks to come out on top this time for trainer Tim Padilla. The race is carded as Race 8 with a 3:47 pm. post.

Aqueduct takes the reins for the middle leg of the sequence where fillies and mares bred in the Empire State seek an allowance victory at six furlongs. Repole Stable’s More Glitter will make her first start since December 2019, where she was fifth in an off-the-turf edition of the Tepin at the Big A. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the daughter of More Than Ready broke her maiden in October 2019 at Belmont Park going 1 1/16 miles. Carded as Race 7, the third leg of the sequence will go off at 4:20 p.m.

Just two minutes later, Tampa Bay Downs will run the penultimate leg and the final event of their nine-race program featuring a field of 11 maiden claimers running six furlongs for a $10,000 tag. Four-time starter Himelstein, who notched his best result in his most recent effort when second, is the lukewarm 2-1 morning-line favorite. 

Stakes action concludes the Cross Country Pick 5 in Aqueduct’s featured $100,000 Maddie May for New York-bred 3-year-old fillies at a one-turn mile. OXO Equine’s promising filly Brattle House faces stakes company for the first time after an impressive November 22 victory for trainer and co-breeder Christophe Clement. She faces accomplished stakes winners Secret Love and Vacay, both of whom scored at said caliber at Aqueduct. The Maddie May has a scheduled post of 4:50 p.m.

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 will continue each Saturday throughout the year. For more information, visit NYRABets.com.

Cross Country Pick 5 - Saturday, February 20:

Leg A: Aqueduct-Race 5 (3:20 p.m.)

Leg B: Tampa Bay Downs-Race 8 (3:47 p.m.)

Leg C: Aqueduct-Race 7 (4:20 p.m.)

Leg D: Tampa Bay Downs-Race 9 (4:22 p.m.)

Leg E: Aqueduct – Race 8, $100,000 Maddie May (4:50 p.m.)