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Saturday’s Cross Country Pick 5 features graded action from Belmont Park, Delaware Park and Woodbine

by Ryan Martin

The New York Racing Association Inc. (NYRA) will host an all graded stakes Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday featuring action from Belmont Park, Delaware Park, and Woodbine Racetrack. 

The Cross Country Pick 5 requires bettors to pick the winner of five select races from tracks across the country. The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is available on ADW platforms and at simulcast facilities across the country with each week featuring a mandatory payout of the net pool. The Cross Country Pick 5, boasting a low 15 percent takeout, offers sequences with races from Belmont Park and partner tracks across the country.

The sequence kicks off at Delaware Park with the Grade 3, $250,000 Robert G. Dick Memorial [Race 7, 3:30 p.m. Eastern] for fillies and mares travelling 11 furlongs on the turf. 

Trainer Graham Motion will saddle Sopran Basilea – a multiple group-stakes winner in Italy – and last out Churchill Downs allowance winner Frivole, who are both making their second start in North America. Trainer Ian Wilkes will send up a streaking Miss Yearwood, who cuts back after two victories going 12 furlongs, entering off a score in the Keertana on May 27 at Churchill Downs. 

Action shifts to Belmont Park for the second leg where multiple graded stakes placed Fort Bragg faces rising star Saudi Crown in the Grade 3, $200,000 Dwyer [Race 6, 3:41 p.m.] for sophomores going a one-turn mile. 

Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, Fort Bragg was a close second in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile on May 6 at Churchill Downs last out and finished a distant third in the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity in December. FMQ Stables’ unbeaten Saudi Crown enters off a 6 1/2-furlong allowance triumph against elders at Churchill Downs for trainer Brad Cox. The son of Always Dreaming broke his maiden by 4 3/4 lengths in a six-furlong maiden on April 16 at Keeneland. 

The middle leg returns to the Mid-Atlantic region as 10 sophomore fillies will assemble for the Grade 3, $300,000 Delaware Oaks [Race 7, 4:00 p.m.] traveling 1 1/16-miles. Juddmonte homebred Fireline will make her two-turn debut for trainer Chad Brown following a one-turn mile optional-claiming victory on May 18 at Belmont Park.  

Hoffman Thoroughbreds and Tom McCrocklin’s Promiseher America will attempt to double up on graded conquests two starts after winning the Grade 3 Gazelle in April at Aqueduct for trainer Ray Handal. The American Pharoah filly was last seen finishing last-of-14 in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on May 5 at Churchill Downs. 

In the penultimate leg, Frank Fletcher Racing Operation’s Candy Man Rocket will attempt a second straight graded win for Hall of Famer Bill Mott in the Grade 2, $250,000 John A. Nerud [Race 9, 5:19 p.m.], a seven-furlong sprint for older horses.  

The 5-year-old son of Candy Ride was a last-out winner of the Grade 3 Runhappy on May 14 at Belmont. Chiefswood Stables’ homebred Weyburn will make his debut for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, entering off a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Westchester for his former trainer Jimmy Jerkens. The son of Pioneerof the Nile was a two-time winner of Gulfstream Park’s Sir Shackleton [2022-23] and won the Grade 3 Gotham in March 2021 at Aqueduct. 

Stakes action at Woodbine in Canada closes out the sequence in the one-mile Grade 2, $175,000 Nassau [Race 10, 6:05 p.m.] for older fillies and mares on the grass. 

Last year’s Queen’s Plate winner Moira will seek her first win since capturing the Canadian Classic for trainer Kevin Attard, entering off a second-place finish in the Grade 3 Belle Mahone on June 3 at the Ontario oval. Trainer Chad Brown will send up Grade 1-placed Eminent Victor, who makes her second start of the year. The daughter of Mr. Z was seventh in the Grade 3 Gallorette on May 20 at Pimlico last out and makes her first start at Woodbine since finishing third in the Grade 1 Natalma in 2021.  

Free Equibase past performances for the Cross Country Pick 5 sequence will be available for download at https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/cross-country-wagers.

America’s Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the spring/summer meet at Belmont Park on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the best way to bet every race of the Belmont spring/summer 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, July 1

Leg A: Delaware – Race 7, G3 Robert G. Dick Memorial (3:30 p.m. Eastern)

Leg B: Belmont Park – Race 6, G3 Dwyer (3:41 p.m.)

Leg C: Delaware Park – Race 8, G3 Delaware Oaks (4:00 p.m.) 

Leg D: Belmont Park – Race 9, G2 John A. Nerud (5:19 p.m.)

Leg E: Woodbine Racetrack – Race 10, G2 Nassau (6:05 p.m.)