Saturday’s Cross Country Pick 5 will feature racing action from Aqueduct and Oaklawn Park

by Ryan Martin

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will host a Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday featuring racing action from Aqueduct Racetrack and Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

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 maiden fillies competing with a $50,000 tag at Oaklawn Park begins the sequence. Carded as Race 6 with a 4:42 p.m. Eastern post, the six-furlong event features Danny Caldwell’s Northern Diamond, who is coming off a career-best effort when second as the beaten favorite. She will be making her first start for new connections after being claimed for $40,000 last out.

Action shifts to Aqueduct for the second leg in Race 8 at 4:55 p.m. with a six-furlong state-bred optional-claiming tilt. Roddy Valente’s Bustin Timberlake seeks a second straight victory against New York-breds over the Big A main track. Trained by Charlton Baker, the son of Bustin Stones was an emphatic 6 ¾-length winner last out, earning a career-best 99 Beyer Speed Figure. The Players Group’s Steam Engine will be seeking his third straight triumph for trainer Antonio Arriaga.

Oaklawn will host the middle leg when an 11-horse field assembles for a six-furlong claiming sprint in Race 7 at 5:15 p.m. Hansens Mischief was made the 7-2 lukewarm favorite for the event and arrives off a fourth-place finish against starter allowance company at the Arkansas oval. Heisfancy also seeks to regain form for trainer Karl Broberg, seeking his first triumph since a score over the all-weather surface at Arlington Park four starts back.

Irresistible Girl will hope the third time is the charm in Aqueduct’s ninth-race finale at 5:26 p.m. The daughter of Tapiture will compete as part of a nine-horse field of sophomore filly New York-bred maidens going six furlongs. Trained by Brad Cox and owned by Madaket Stable, Wonder Stable and Robert LaPenta, Irresistible Girl was third, beaten a length last out going a one-turn mile at the Aqueduct.

Summer Brew will attempt to add a victory to a consistent record of 6-0-3-1. Owned by NY Final Furlong Racing Stable and Maspeth Stable and trained by Jorge Abreu, the daughter of Summer Front has kept classy company in the maiden ranks finishing behind subsequent stakes winners Samborella, Make Mischief and Party At Page’s as well as stakes-placed Rossa Veloce.

Oaklawn Park hosts the Cross Country Pick 5’s finale, when an overflow field of sophomores chase their first career win for a $50,000 tag. Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Megatap sports blinkers after two close runner-up placings for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. Highland Yard’s Lazaretto takes a drop in class for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. after finishing tenth off a slow start in hia February 27 debut over a sloppy track at Oaklawn Park. The six-furlong event will go off at 5:47 p.m. in Race 8. 

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, March 20:

Leg A: Oaklawn Park – Race 6 (4:42 p.m.)

Leg B: Aqueduct – Race 8 (4:55 p.m.)

Leg C: Oaklawn Park – Race 7 (5:15 p.m.)

Leg D: Aqueduct – Race 9 (5:26 p.m.)

Leg E: Oaklawn Park – Race 8 (5:47p.m.)