Cross Country Pick 5 features Tampa Bay Downs stakes duo
by Najja Thompson/NYRA
The New York Racing Association, Inc. will partner with Oaklawn Park and Tampa Bay Downs to host a Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday, highlighted by the $100,000 Pelican from Tampa.
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. Every week will feature a mandatory payout of the net pool.
The sequence kicks off in Race 7 (3:55 p.m. Eastern) from Aqueduct, ahighly competitive second-level allowance going six furlongs and featuring a field on 12. Drawing Away Stable's has a formidable entry with Bronx Bomber, for conditioner John Toscano, and Freudian Slip for trainer Linda Rice, each coming in off claiming level victories last out.
Racing action then switches to Tampa for the $100,000 Pelican for 4-year-olds and upward. Carded as Race 8 (3:59 p.m.), the six-furlong sprint will see the return of graded stakes-winner Killybegs Captain, trained by John Terranova for Curragh Stables, taking on a field of nine that includes the graded-stakes placed Mucho for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.
The Cross Country Pick 5 continues in Race 9 (4:29 p.m.) at Tampa, a five-furlong maiden special weight turf sprint for fillies and mares 3 year -old and up. A loaded field of 10 is led by Miahsolomiah for owner JN Racing Stables and trainer Jorge Navarro.
Oaklawn Park's Race 6 (4:39 p.m.) is a first-level allowance at 1 1/16 miles for 3-year-olds. Alpha Sixty Six will be making his first start of the year among the field of nine for trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Paul Pompa, Jr. The Liam's Map colt will look to rebound off a sixth-place finish in the Grade 2 Remsen in December.
Closing out the Cross Country Pick 5 is the $50,000 Minaret from Tampa. Carded as Race 10 (4:59 p.m.), the six-furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares 4-years-old and upward has a full field of 12. Lady's Island, a graded stakes winner for Matties Racing Stable and Averill Racing, will look to improve off a second-place finish in the Sunshine Millions Sprint on January 18 at Gulfstream Park. Top contenders in the field include Foxy Mischief entering off a 2 ΒΌ-length optional-claiming victory on January 12 at Tampa and Lovesick, who will make her first start for conditioner Brendan Walsh coming off a sixth-place finish in the Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks.
Cross Country Pick 5 - Saturday, February 15:
Leg 1 - Aqueduct, Race 7: $64,000 Allowance (3:55 p.m.)
Leg 2 - Tampa, Race 8: $100,000 Pelican (3:59 p.m.)
Leg 3 - Tampa, Race 9, Maiden Special Weight (4:29 p.m.)
Leg 4 - Oaklawn, Race 6, Allowance (4:39 p.m.)
Leg 5 - Tampa, Race 10, $50,000 Minaret (4:59)