Francesca Le Donne Photo

NYRA partners with Penn National for all-turf stakes Cross Country Pick 5

by Najja Thompson

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will again host a Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday, June 1, featuring a scheduled all-turf sequence with stakes action from Belmont Park and from Penn National in Grantville, Pennsylvania.

The Cross Country Pick 5 action kicks off at Belmont Park in Race 8, at 5:18 p.m., where a field of eight talented runners will compete in the Grade 3, $200,000 Pennine Ridge for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on the inner turf.

Trainer Chad Brown entered a formidable pair of unbeaten British-bred runners with Demarchelier for owner Peter Brant and Value Proposition for owner Klaravich Stables. Todd Pletcher also entered a pair of talented runners in Social Paranoia for The Elkstone Group, who finished third last out in the Grade 2 American Turf at Churchill Downs; and the British-bred Clint Maroon, last-out winner of the Woodhaven, for the St. Elias Stable.

The action will then switch to Penn National for the remaining four legs beginning with the $100,000 Susquehanna for fillies and mares, 3-years-old and up going 1 /16 miles on the grass carded as Race 8 at 6:05 p.m. 

Multiple stakes winner Dynatail for Ballybrit Stable and trainer Mike Dini will take on a formidable field with challengers including Live Oak Plantation's stakes winner Souper Striking for conditioner Michael Trombetta and multiple stakes winner Enchanted Ghost for trainer Hamilton Smith.

The third leg of the Cross Country Pick 5 is the $100,000 Pennsylvania Governor's Cup (Race 9, 6:40 p.m.) for turf sprinters at five furlongs. The five-horse field is highlighted by multiple graded stakes winner Pure Sensation set to make his second start of the year for owner and breeder Patricia Generazio and trainer Christophe Clement following an allowance victory on April 12 at Gulfstream Park.

The penultimate leg of the sequence is the $200,000 Penn Oaks for 3-year-old fillies, at one mile, carded as Race 10 at 7:15 p.m.. Multiple graded stakes placed Regal Glory for owner Paul Pompa, Jr. and conditioner Chad Brown will battle Shadwell Stable's homebred Alasaayil for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin and Ionic for conditioner Arnaud Delacour and owner Catherine Wills in the eight-horse field.

The final leg of the Pick 5 is the Grade 2, $500,000 Penn Mile (Race 11, 7:50 p.m.) for 3-year-olds. Graded stakes winners A Thread of Blue for Flaxman Holdings and conditioner Kiaran McLaughlin and August Dawn Farm's Forty Under for trainer Jeremiah Englehart highlight a talented nine-horse field of emerging 3-year-old colts in the turf division.

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 - Penn National - Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday, June 1

Leg A: Belmont Park- Grade 3 Pennine Ridge - Race 8 (5:18 pm)

Leg B: Penn National- Susquehanna Stakes - Race 8 (6:05 pm)

Leg C: PA Governor's Cup - Race 9 (6:40 pm)

Leg D: Penn Oaks -Race 10 (7:15 pm)

Leg E: Grade 2 Penn Mile -Race 11 (7:50 pm)