NYRA Photo

​NYRA to host Whitney 2-Day Pick 6 wager

by Keith McCalmont

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will host the Whitney 2-Day Pick 6, a special two-day all-stakes wager, kicking off with the Grade 2, $500,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame on Friday’s card and concluding with five races on Saturday’s lucrative Whitney Day card at Saratoga Race Course.

The Whitney 2-Day Pick 6, featuring a $0.20 minimum and low 15 percent takeout, includes a mandatory payout.

The Whitney 2-Day Pick 6 sequence will kick off in Race 8 on Friday at 5:08 p.m. Eastern with the Grade 2, National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame, a one-mile inner turf test for sophomores featuring a trio of contenders for trainer Chad Brown in Appraise, Mischievous Angel and Carl Spackler.

The sequence concludes with five races on Saturday’s Whitney Day program, beginning in Race 6 at 3:17 p.m. with super mare Caravel, the reigning Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner, headlining the Grade 3, $300,000 Troy for 4-year-olds and upward going 5 1/2 furlongs on the Mellon turf.

The sequence continues in Race 7 [3:51 p.m.] with the restricted $135,000 Fasig-Tipton Lure for 4-year-olds and upward going 1 1/16 miles over turf ahead of the first Grade 1 in the sequence in Race 8 [4:26 p.m.] as Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks-winner Pretty Mischievous takes on undefeated Maple Leaf Mel in the seven-furlong $500,000 Test for sophomore fillies.

A talented field of nine line up in the penultimate leg [Race 9, 5:01 p.m.] in the Grade 1, $600,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational for 3-year-olds going 1 3/16 miles over the Mellon turf as Grade 1-winning filly Aspen Grove will battle the boys, including recent Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational-winner Far Bridge.

The wager concludes with the 96th running of the nine-furlong Grade 1, $1 million Whitney [Race 10, 5:42 p.m.] as Cody's Wish puts his six-race win streak on the line while attempting his first win beyond one mile.

Whitney 2-Day Pick 6 – August 4-5

Leg A: Saratoga Race Course – Friday, Race 8, G2 NMRHOF (5:08 p.m. Eastern)

Leg B: Saratoga Race Course – Saturday, Race 6, G3 Troy (3:17 p.m.)

Leg C: Saratoga Race Course - Saturday, Race 7, Lure (3:51 p.m.)

Leg D: Saratoga Race Course – Saturday, Race 8, G1 Test (4:26 p.m.)

Leg E: Saratoga Race Course – Saturday, Race 9, G1 Saratoga Derby (5:01 p.m.)

Leg F: Saratoga Race Course – Saturday, Race 10, G1 Whitney (5:42 p.m.)

*

NYRA will also host a special cross breed Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday, featuring Grade 1 thoroughbred action from Whitney Day at Saratoga Race Course and standardbred racing from the Hambletonian card at Meadowlands Racetrack.

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

Please note, current New York State regulations allow NYRA to accept wagering only on standardbred races that take place in New York. As such, this cross breed Cross Country Pick 5 will not be available on-track at any NYRA facility or to NYRA Bets customers located in New York State. The cross breed Cross Country Pick 5 is available to NYRA Bets customers outside of New York State.

Saturday’s Cross Country Pick 5 kicks off at the Meadowlands in Race 10 at 3:31 p.m. Eastern with the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks as Walner Payton squares off with Railee Something in the trotting Classic for sophomore fillies.

The action switches to Saratoga for the Grade 1, $500,000 Test in Race before returning to the Meadowlands for the $1 million Hambletonian [Race 12, 4:38 p.m.] as Celebrity Bambino heads a competitive group of 3-year-old trotters that includes Oh Well, Winner’s Bet and Point of Perfect. 

The sequence concludes at the Spa with the Grade 1, $600,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational [Race 9, 5:01 p.m.] and the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney [Race 10, 5:42 p.m.]

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 Saratoga Race Course and partner tracks across the country.

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

Cross Country Pick 5 – Saturday, August 5

Leg A: Meadowlands - Race 10, Hambletonian Oaks (3:31 p.m. Eastern)

Leg B: Saratoga Race Course - Race 8, G1 Test (4:26 p.m.)

Leg C: Meadowlands - Race 12, Hambletonian (4:38 p.m.)

Leg D: Saratoga Race Course – Race 9, G1 Saratoga Derby (5:01 p.m.)

Leg E: Saratoga Race Course – Race 10, G1 Whitney (5:42 p.m.)

The FOX Sports family of networks will present expansive coverage and analysis of Whitney Day beginning with Saratoga Live on FS2 at 12:30 p.m. Coverage then picks up on FOX SARATOGA SATURDAY which will air from 3-6:00 p.m. on FOX. Saratoga Live will complete the live coverage of Whitney Day on FS2 from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule. 

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Saratoga Race Course, and the best way to bet every race of the summer meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.