NYRA partners with Monmouth Park and Woodbine for Cross Country Pick 5 this Sunday

by Ryan Martin

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will again host a Cross Country Pick 5 on Sunday May 19, featuring racing action from Belmont Park as well as Woodbine Racetrack in Etobicoke, Ontario and Monmouth Park in Oceanport, New Jersey.

Racing action kicks off in the $75,000 Get Serious at Monmouth Park which is carded as Race 9 and is scheduled to go off at 4:47 p.m. The full-field 5 ½ furlong turf sprint features graded stakes winner Vision Perfect for trainer Jason Servis as well as two-time graded stakes placed Pool Winner who makes his first start for the barn of Jorge Duarte, Jr.

In the second leg of the Cross Country Pick 5, eight fillies and mares seek a triumph against winners in a first-level allowance event going six furlongs over the Belmont Park main track. Trainer Chad Brown will saddle the regally-bred Chamber who has not raced since a 7 1/4-length romp over sloppy going at Belmont Park last September.

Shadwell Farm's Sinwaan, who recently broke her maiden at Keeneland for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin and Bingwa - recently a close second against allowance company at Keeneland for trainer Wesley Ward - provide steep opposition. The event is carded as Race 8 with a 5:18 p.m. scheduled post time.

The action then shifts to our neighbors to the north for Woodbine's ninth race - a 1 1/16-mile allowance event for fillies and mares over the all weather surface. Breaking from the rail as the 8-5 morning line favorite is Niigon's Bay, who seeks her fourth career win for trainer Rachel Halden. The lightly raced 6-year-old mare also seeks her first victory since September 2017 where she beat an allowance level field over the turf at Woodbine. The race is scheduled to go off at 5:31 p.m.

The penultimate leg is a 1 1/16-mile maiden over the Monmouth Park turf which includes well-bred Oso Negro for trainer Chad Brown who is by Medaglia d'Oro, out of Grade 1 winner Lighthouse Bay, and makes her second career start. To her outside is stable mate Down Home Kitten who makes her career debut for owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey. Carded as Race 11, post time is 5:46 p.m.

In the final leg of the Cross Country Pick 5, 12 New York-bred entrants plus four also eligibles will race for a $40,000 tag over the Widener Turf Course in the Belmont nightcap slated for 5:51 p.m. Making her first start for trainer Rudy Rodriguez is Mo Savings, who finished sixth in a state-bred maiden event over the Aqueduct main track in February. 

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 - Woodbine - Monmouth - Cross Country Pick 5 on Sunday, May 19

Leg A: Monmouth - Race 9, $75,000 Get Serious (4:47 pm)

Leg B: Belmont - Race 8 (5:18 pm)