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NYRA partners with Monmouth Park, Woodbine for Cross Country Pick 5

by Ryan Martin

ELMONT, N.Y. - The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will again host a Cross Country Pick 5 on Sunday, June 9, featuring racing action from Belmont Park as well as Monmouth Park in Oceanport, New Jersey and Woodbine Racetrack in Etobicoke, Ontario.

A field of 10 plus one main track only entrant get things started in the first leg which is a one mile starter handicap over the Monmouth Park turf. Featured in the event are stakes winner Macagone who will attempt back-to-back wins for trainer Jason Servis. Also looking for two victories in a row is King of Spades for trainer Kelly Breen who saddled the horse to an allowance victory over the Oceanport turf on May 27. The event is carded as Race 9 with a 4:45 p.m. post time.

Eight New Jersey-bred fillies and mares will seek stakes glory in the $75,000 Smart N Classy, which is the second leg of the Cross Country Pick 5. Carded as Race 10 with a 5:15 p.m. post time, the 1 1/16-mile test over Monmouth Park's turf course. Two-time stakes placed Horologist will attempt to add a stakes win to her resume for trainer John Mazzo. The 3-year-old daughter of Gemologist will be going for her third victory in a row after respective wins against allowance company at Gulfstream Park and Monmouth.

Action shifts to beautiful Belmont Park for the third leg of the Cross Country Pick 5 for Race 8 - a one-mile first level allowance event over the Widener turf course. Breaking from the rail for Hall of Famer Jonathan Sheppard is Everyonelovesjames, who enters the race fresh off of a wire-to-wire maiden victory over the Gulfstream Park turf on April 7. Breaking to the outside of the 10-horse field is two-time winner at Belmont Park Mr. Massena, who enters Sunday's race off of a victory on May 24 where he raced for a $40,000 tag. The race has a scheduled post time of 5:18 p.m.

Our neighbors to the north host the penultimate leg when a field of eight fillies and mares take aim at the Grade 3, $125,000 Hendrie over Woodbine's all weather surface. Summer Sunday will put her unbeaten record at Woodbine on the line when breaking from post 6 for the 6 ½ furlong event. Trained by Stuart Simon, the daughter of Silent Name has won all five of her starts at the Toronto oval, four of which were against stakes company. The Hendrie will go off as Race 9 with a 5:28 p.m. post time.

A six-furlong allowance race over the inner turf at Belmont Park rounds out the Cross Country Pick 5. Carded as Race 9 with a post time of 5:51 p.m., six sophomore colts plus one main-track only entrant will go into line, including graded stakes placed Joyful Heart who is looking for his first victory since breaking his maiden for trainer Brian Lynch back in July of last year. Two-time winner Kosciuszko takes a drop in class after two off the board efforts against stakes company for trainer Patrick Quick.

The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is also available on track, on ADW platforms, and at simulcast facilities across the country. There will be a mandatory payout of the entire pool.

Belmont Park - Woodbine - Monmouth Park Cross Country Pick 5
Leg A: Monmouth Park-Race 9 (4:45 p.m.)
Leg B: Monmouth Park- $75,000 Smart N Fancy (Race 10, 5:15 p.m.)
Leg C: Belmont Park-Race 8 (5:18 p.m.)
Leg D: Woodbine- Grade 3, $125,000 Hendrie (Race 9, 5:28 p.m.)
Leg E: Belmont Park-Race 9 (5:51 p.m.)