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

by Ryan Martin

Free Equibase PPs available 

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will host a Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday featuring Kentucky Derby qualifiers 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.

Saturday’s sequence kicks off with a field of eight New York-bred fillies and mares going seven furlongs in a first level allowance event. Trainer Carlos Soto sends last out winner Mabel Island from Parx Racing in pursuit of victory after defeating four others in a starter allowance at Parx by 7 ¼ lengths. Also attempting a second straight win is Fair Lassie, who won for a $25,000 tag on January 31 at the Big A for trainer Karl Broberg. Carded as Race 7 on the nine-race program, the first leg of the Cross Country Pick 5 has a post time of 3:55 p.m.

Action shifts to Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar, Florida for the $150,000 Suncoast for sophomore fillies going a mile and 40 yards over the main track. The race is a 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Oaks qualifier, and features previous Tampa stakes winners in J D Farms’ Special Princess, who dead-heated for victory in the last out Gasparilla for trainer Walter Woodard, as well as Feeling Mischief from the barn of Michael Campbell, who took the Sandpiper on December 5. The Suncoast is scheduled as Race 9 with a 4:22 p.m. post time.

Aqueduct takes the reins for the middle race in the sequence when a field of nine 3-year-old colts pursue Kentucky Derby points in the Grade 3, $250,000 Withers going nine furlongs. The second local prep on the calendar year for the ‘Run for the Roses’ features two maiden special weight winners for trainer Todd Pletcher including royally-bred Overtook, a product of multiple champion-producing sire Curlin and Grade 1-winner Got Lucky.

Owned by Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable, Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith, Overtook came from 10 lengths off the pace in his last out maiden victory going a one-turn mile at the Big A. Donegal Bay ships from South Florida after a gate-to-wire maiden score also at a one-turn mile at Gulfstream Park. Scheduled as Race 8, the Withers will go off at 4:25 p.m.

The final two legs of the sequence will be hosted by Tampa Bay Downs. In the penultimate leg, eight fillies and mares travel the 1 1/16-mile distance in the Grade 3, $175,000 Endeavour [Race 10; 4:32 p.m.] on the turf. Never short on talent in the turf category, trainer Chad Brown will send Klaravich Stables’ Counterparty Risk off a close second in her stakes debut, which took place in the December 26 Lady Shamrock at Santa Anita. R Unicorn Stable’s New York Girl will seek to go 2-for-2 in North America for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott after a New Year’s Eve allowance score over the turf at Gulfstream Park.

The Grade 3, $250,000 Sam F. Davis (Race 11; 5:02 p.m.) closes the curtain on the sequence when a field of 12 sophomore colts, plus one also eligible entrant, go into line in pursuit of Derby qualifying points. The 1 1/16-mile event awards points to the top-four finishers according to a 10-4-2-1 scale and features graded stakes-placed Known Agenda.

The Pletcher-trained St. Elias Stables homebred was third in the Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct last out after breaking his maiden going nine furlongs at the Big A. Pletcher also sends out Donegal Racing’s Millean, who broke his maiden going a one-turn mile at Gulfstream Park last out. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott will be represented by stakes winner Nova Rags, who arrives off a score in the seven-furlong Pasco at Tampa Bay Downs, as well as highly impressive maiden winner Candy Man Rocket. Trainer Dale Romans will send out Smiley Sobotka after a close runner-up finish in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs in November.

The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is 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 6:
Leg A: Aqueduct-Race 7 (3:55 p.m.)
Leg B: Tampa Bay Downs-Race 9 $150K Suncoast (4:02 p.m.)
Leg C: Aqueduct-Race 8 G3 $250K Withers (4:25 p.m.)
Leg D: Tampa Bay Downs-Race 10 G3 $175K Endeavour (4:32 p.m.)
Leg E: Tampa Bay Downs-Race 11 G3 $250K Sam F. Davis (5:02 p.m.)