The New York Racing Association Inc. [NYRA] will host a Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday featuring racing action from Belmont Park, Woodbine Racetrack and Delaware Park.
Free Equibase past performances for the Cross Country Pick 5 sequence are available for download at https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/cross-country-wagers.
Saturday’s sequence kicks off in Race 7 at 4:21 p.m. Eastern with a 1 1/16-mile allowance event for 3-year-olds and up on the Woodbine Tapeta.
A talented field of 11 will see the 2020 Coronation Futurity-winner Stephen commence his path to the Queen’s Plate for trainer Kevin Attard against a group of older horses led by the Josie Carroll-trained Belichick, who finished second in last year’s Queen’s Plate in September ahead of a four-length score in the Breeders’ in October at Woodbine, the third and final leg of the Canadian Triple Crown.
Action switches to Belmont for the second leg [Race 8, 4:40 p.m.], a 1 1/16-mile optional-claiming event on the inner turf for sophomores featuring the grass debut of Woodslane Farm’s Wolfie’s Dynaghost, a half-brother to multiple graded stakes winning turf specialist Sadler’s Joy. A deep field of contenders includes the graded-stakes placed Shawdyshawdyshawdy, who finished third last out in the off-the-turf Grade 3 Pennine Ridge; and the stakes-placed Space Launch, the third-place finisher in the Awad in October over yielding turf at Belmont.
The middle leg begins the stakes portion of the sequence with the Grade 3, $300,000 Delaware Oaks [Race 8, 4:45 p.m.], a 1 1/16-mile test for sophomore fillies topped by 6-5 morning-line favorite Crazy Beautiful for trainer Kenny McPeek. The Liam’s Map gray captured the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks in March and last out won the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks on May 30 at Santa Anita Park.
The penultimate leg will mark the seasonal debut of Juddmonte Farms’ Viadera in the $100,000 Perfect Sting [Race 9, 5:12 p.m.], a one-mile Widener turf test for older fillies and mares at Belmont. Trained by four-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown, Viadera won 3-of-4 starts last year, including a nose score in the Grade 1 Matriarch last out in November at Del Mar.
Closing out the sequence is a 1 1/16-mile optional-claiming event [Race 9, 5:22 p.m.] for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course at Woodbine. Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse sends out a trio of contenders in multiple graded stakes placed Art of Almost [21-3-5-5, $239,448], the improving Tappitty Tappitty [9-2-3-1, $98,246] and the consistent Preferred Guest [17-3-5-3, $232,809].
The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is also available on ADW platforms and at simulcast facilities across the country. Every week will feature a mandatory payout of the net pool. The Cross Country Pick 5 will continue each Saturday throughout the year. For more information, visit NYRABets.com.
Cross Country Pick 5 for Saturday, July 3
Leg A: Woodbine – Race 7 (4:21 p.m.)
Leg B: Belmont Park – Race 8 (4:40 p.m.)
Leg C: Delaware Park – Race 8 – Grade 3 Delaware Oaks (4:45 p.m.)
Leg D: Belmont Park – Race 9 – Perfect Sting (5:12 p.m.)
Leg E: Woodbine – Race 9 (5:22 p.m.)
