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Saturday’s Cross Country Pick 5 features stakes from Aqueduct Racetrack and Keeneland

by Mary Eddy

The New York Racing Association Inc. (NYRA) will host a Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday featuring stakes 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 4:44 p.m. Eastern from Keeneland, the $200,000 Giant’s Causeway for fillies and mares 3-years-old and upward sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs over the turf. The field is headlined by the return of dual Group 1 winner Campanelle, who will hope to rebound from a third in the Grade 3 Buffalo Trace Franklin County last out on October 15 at Keeneland. Trained by Wesley Ward, the daughter of Kodiac was the winner of the Group 1 Darley Prix Morny at Deauville and the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Ascot last year.

Campanelle will face an overflow field of opponents, including M Bar O’s Elle Z, who streaks in from a trio of stakes victories at Fair Grounds Race Course for trainer Chris Hartman. Her recent wins include the Nelson J. Menard Memorial, the Frederick P. Aime Memorial and the Mardi Gras. Also included are graded stakes winners Change of Control, a dual Grade 3 winner, and Jouster, winner of the 2021 Grade 2 Appalachian over the Keeneland lawn.

The action moves north for the second leg in Race 8 [5:06 p.m.] from Aqueduct, a 1 1/16-mile turf starter allowance for 3-year-olds and upward. Ginnsu Warrior enters from a runner-up effort in a $32,000 claimer on February 21 where he was claimed by new owner Flying P Stable and trainer Tom Morely. A son of First Samurai, Ginnsu Warrior broke his maiden at third asking in a maiden special weight in August at Indiana Grand.

Jordan Wycoff’s Hilliard returns from a six-month layoff for his first start since a good fourth-place effort in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Hill Prince at Belmont Park in October. Other foes include Bar Fourteen, who was an eight-length winner first off the claim for trainer Gary Sciacca for a $40,000 tag. He was a well-beaten eighth last out in the Stud Muffin starter stakes on March 26 at the Big A and will be trying turf for the first time since a sixth-place finish in a claiming race at Aqueduct on November 21.

The sequence moves back to Keeneland for graded action in Race 9 [5:16 p.m.], the Grade 3 Lexington for sophomores travelling 1 1/16 miles over the main track. The Lexington offers 20-8-4-2 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-four finishers. The Kelly Breen-trained In Due Time was last seen finishing second in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on March 5 at Gulfstream Park, defeated 3 1/2 lengths by Simplification in his graded stakes debut.

Other familiar faces from the Road to the Kentucky Derby include Grade 2 Rebel runner-up Ethereal Road, who makes a quick turnaround from a distant seventh-place finish in the Grade 1 Blue Grass on April 9 at Keeneland for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Peachtree Stable’s Tawny Port will attempt to retain his spot in the top 20 Kentucky Derby hopefuls after he picked up his 40 qualifying points with a runner-up effort to Tiz the Bomb in the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks on April 2 at Turfway Park. Also featured are Grade 3 Lecomte winner Call Me Midnight and Grade 3 Iroquois winner Major General.

The action switches back to Aqueduct for Race 9 [5:40 p.m.], a starter allowance for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up sprinting six furlongs on the outer turf. Marequest and Empire Racing Club’s Freedomofthepress was a last out winner first off the claim in November for trainer Linda Rice, breaking her maiden by 2 3/4 lengths after she was acquired for $40,000 out of a fourth-place effort in October at Belmont. Lady of Thoroton also enters from a last-out victory, taking a $32,000 claimer by 1 1/2 lengths on February 25 over a sloppy and sealed Big A main track. Michael Schmidt’s Bella Principessa enters in good form for trainer Rob Klesaris, boasting two wins and two thirds in her last four outings.

The sequence wraps up in Race 11 (6:20 p.m.) at Keeneland, a competitive seven-furlong allowance optional claiming sprint for older horses. Two-time winner Ducale has never been off-the-board in five starts for trainer Brad Cox, most recently finishing a close second in a one-mile allowance on November 28 at Churchill Downs where he was defeated one length by Cody’s Wish.

Ducale will face steep opposition from stakes Highly Motivated, who makes his first start for trainer Chad Brown since finishing 10th in last year’s Grade 1 Kentucky Derby. The son of Into Mischief won the 2020 Nyquist at Keeneland and finished second by a neck to three-time Grade 1 winner Essential Quality in the Grade 2 Blue Grass last year. Also featured is Grade 1-placed Soup and Sandwich for Hall of Famer Mark Casse. The Into Mischief grey finished second to Known Agenda in last year’s Grade 1 Florida Derby and most recently finished third in an optional claimer at Gulfstream Park.

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 16:

Leg A: Keeneland – Race 8, $200K Giant’s Causeway (4:44 p.m. Eastern)

Leg B: Aqueduct – Race 8, starter allowance (5:06 p.m.)

Leg C: Keeneland – Race 9, G3 Lexington (5:16 p.m.)

Leg D: Aqueduct – Race 9, starter allowance (5:40 p.m.)

Leg E: Keeneland – Race 11, allowance optional claiming (6:20 p.m.)