Saturday’s Cross Country Pick 5 to feature all-stakes sequence from Belmont Park, Horseshoe Indianapolis

by Mary Eddy

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will host a Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday featuring an all-stakes sequence from Belmont Park and Horseshoe Indianapolis.  

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 5:28 p.m. Eastern in Race 10 from Horseshoe Indianapolis, the $100,000 Indiana General Assembly Distaff Handicap at 1 1/16-miles on turf for older fillies and mares. Henrietta Topham arrives off a narrow triumph in the Grade 3 Mint Julep on June 4 at Churchill Downs for trainer Geoff Mulcahy, looking to notch both her third consecutive victory and third career stakes conquest. The Carlo Vaccarezza-trained Sweet Dani Girl looks to improve from two placings in graded events in her last two outings, while the Brad Cox-trained Juncture makes her third state-side outing on the heels of a win in the Ouija Board Distaff on May 29 at Lone Star Park.

Action switches to Belmont Park to commence the first of four graded events to close out the sequence, beginning with the Grade 1, $750,000 Belmont Derby Invitational in Race 10 [5:49 p.m.]. The Andrew Balding-trained The Foxes makes his American debut off a fifth in the Group 1 Epsom Derby, which followed a determined neck victory in the Group 2 Dante at York. A talented field includes the pair of graded stakes-winners Webslinger and Boppy O for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse; dual graded stakes-placed Far Bridge for Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher; and last-out Grade 2 Pennine Ridge-winner Kalik for four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown.

The sequence heads back to Indiana for Race 11 [6:03 p.m.], the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Indiana Oaks for sophomore fillies. Graded stakes-winner Taxed makes her first appearance since a breakout win in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan for conditioner Randy Morse. She’ll face steep opposition from Grade 1 Ashland-winner Defining Purpose for trainer Ken McPeek and the graded stakes-placed Lily Poo for trainer Michael McCarthy in a competitive field of eight.

The penultimate leg features sophomore fillies sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs in the Grade 3 Victory Ride [Race 11, 6:21 p.m.] at Belmont, led by undefeated starlets Maple Leaf Mel and Dazzling Blue. The former enters from a strong win in the Grade 3 Miss Preakness on May 19 to make her first start for conditioner Melanie Giddings while the latter steps up to the graded ranks for the first time off an 8 3/4-length optional claiming romp on the same day at Churchill for Cox. They will have their perfect records challenged by last-out Grade 2 Eight Belles-winner Red Carpet Ready for trainer Rusty Arnold and the Brown-trained Interpolate, who was a close second last out in the Grade 2 Beaumont in April at Keeneland.

The sequence closes out in the Hoosier State with the Grade 3 Indiana Derby [Race 12, 6:40 p.m.], a 1 1/16-mile test for sophomores. Dual Grade 1-placed Verifying was last seen finishing a game second in the Grade 3 Matt Winn on June 11 at Ellis Park where he earned a 101 Beyer Speed Figure for Cox. Act a Fool has won his last four starts for conditioner Larry Rivelli, including the Hawthorne Derby on turf last out for his first stakes coup. The field also includes Grade 3 Gotham victor Raise Cain for trainer Ben Colebrook; multiple graded stakes-placed Hayes Strike for McPeek; and Georgie W, who is undefeated in two starts and won a local allowance by 9 3/4 lengths last out for trainer Will Walden. 

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 8

Leg A: Horseshoe Indianapolis, Race 10 –Ind. General Assembly Distaff H. (5:28 p.m. Eastern)

Leg B: Belmont Park, Race 10 – G1 Belmont Derby Inv. (5:49 p.m.)

Leg C: Horseshoe Indianapolis, Race 11 – G3 Indiana Oaks (6:03 p.m.)

Leg D: Belmont Park, Race 11 – G3 Victory Ride (6:21 p.m.)

Leg E: Horseshoe Indianapolis, Race 12 – G3 Indiana Derby (6:40 p.m.)