Belmont Partners With Keeneland For Saturday Cross Country Pick 5

Saturday's Cross Country Pick 5 will feature action from Belmont Park and Keeneland Race Course in a wager hosted by the New York Racing Association, Inc.

Live coverage will be available with America's Day at the Races on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. Free Equibase past performances for the Cross Country Pick 5 sequence are now available for download at https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/cross-country-wagers.

Keeneland will start the action in Race 7 at 4:24 p.m. Eastern with a maiden contest for juvenile fillies going seven furlongs. Willful Woman, a $400,000 purchase at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton New York Select Sale, has been training at Keeneland ahead of her anticipated debut for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. Trainer Tom Amoss will send out a pair with Miss Dial and Wicked Bisou as part of a 12-horse field.

Belmont gets in on the action with the 80,000 Floral Park in Race 9 at 4:47 p.m. Graded stakes-winner Mitchell Road will get her first career test at Belmont when she competes as part of a full 13-horse field for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up contesting six furlongs on the Widener turf course. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Mitchell Road enters off a runner-up effort in the Grade 3 Kentucky Downs Ladies on September 12. Rose Flower, a German bred who has gone 1-0-2 in four starts since arriving from Europe last year for trainer Christophe Clement, will look for class relief after running sixth in the Grade 3 Intercontinental on June 6 over a yielding Belmont turf.

Action will again alternate to Keeneland for the third leg in Race 8 at 4:57 p.m. when a full field of 12 3-year-olds and up will run at nine furlongs on the turf in an allowance tilt. Trainer Mike Maker will send out a pair in Temple and Apreciado. Conditioner Jack Sisterson will also saddle multiple graded-stakes placed Ritzy A.P., who will break from the inside post.

Belmont's second and final leg will be the card's 10th-race finale, where 10 New York-bred fillies and mares 3-years-old and up will compete over seven furlongs on Big Sandy at 5:20 p.m. Jc's Shooting Star, a stakes-winner who also bested allowance company on August 16 at Saratoga, drew the far outside post for trainer David Donk. Playtone, second in last year's Key Cents at Aqueduct Racetrack, will go for trainer George Weaver.

The Grade 2, $200,000 Raven Run in Keeneland's Race 9 at 5:30 p.m. will close the curtain on the Cross Country Pick 5, with 10 sophomore fillies vying for supremacy going seven furlongs on the main track in Race 9. Graded stakes-winners Venetian Harbor and Four Graces will look for additional blacktype in a race that could set up a spot in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on November 7 at the same Lexington track. Nine of the field's entrants are either graded-placed or stakes winners.

Trained by Richard Baltas, Venetian Harbor won the Grade 2 Las Virgenes in February at Santa Anita Park and has run second in three straight graded stakes, falling just short to divisional leaders Swiss Skydiver, Speech and Gamine.

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 – Saturday, October 17:
Leg 1 – Keeneland, Race 7: (4:24 p.m.)
Leg 2 – Belmont, Race 9: Floral Park (4:47 p.m.)
Leg 3 – Keeneland, Race 8: (4:57 p.m.)
Leg 4 – Belmont, Race 10: (5:20 p.m.)
Leg 5 – Keeneland, Race 9: G2 Raven Run (5:30 p.m.)

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NYRA Instituting Purse Increases Beginning Oct. 18

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced that purse increases will take effect across a number of conditions beginning Sunday, October 18 and continuing through the remainder of the Belmont Park fall meet.

Notable among the significant purse increases is the open maiden special weight category increasing from $63,000 to $80,000 and the New York-bred maiden special weight category increasing from $52,000 to $70,000.

Purses for open claiming and maiden claiming races at NYRA are the highest in the country, providing opportunities for horsemen at all levels. The open $25,000 claiming category will see a $4,000 increase to $50,000, while the $40,000 maiden-claiming condition will now offer a purse of $43,000.

“The myriad impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic – including the suspension of live racing and the closure of casinos across New York – forced NYRA to make significant adjustments to the purse structure to ensure operational continuity throughout the spring, summer and early part of the fall,” said NYRA Senior Vice President of Racing Operations Martin Panza.


“NYRA made those strategic decisions early in the crisis so that we could restore our purses to near pre-pandemic levels as soon as possible to support New York's horsemen and the 19,000 jobs connected to thoroughbred racing in New York,” Panza continued. “Thanks to the incredibly strong wagering seen at Saratoga and into Belmont fall, coupled with the resumption of VLT revenues in early September, we are at this point even faster than expected. NYRA would like to thank Joe Appelbaum and the membership of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association for their hard work and collaboration in securing these increases.”

In addition to the purse increases beginning October 18, a retroactive purse payment for the first 16 days of the 27-day Belmont fall meet will be issued for 50 percent of the proposed purse increase. For example, the owner of the winner of an open maiden special weight will be entitled to the 55 percent winner's share [$4,675] of the $17,000 purse increase for that condition. The retroactive adjustments are applicable to qualifying races starting on September 18.

New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association President Joe Appelbaum expressed strong support for the NYRA's enhanced purse structure.

“It's wonderful to see the purses at Belmont going up,” said Appelbaum. “It demonstrates the popularity and resilience of our racing product and our horsemen will appreciate the return to more normal purse levels. Fingers crossed, we are all learning to manage cash-flow through COVID-19 and this is a testament to the clear-eyed planning of the spring and summer.”

Pari-mutuel wagering funds the majority of the NYRA purse account, which is awarded to horsemen and, in turn, benefits hundreds of small businesses operating at NYRA tracks and others dependent on the thoroughbred racing industry.

Following the March 19 suspension of live racing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Belmont Park re-opened without spectators in attendance on June 3 for an abbreviated 25-day spring/summer meet. Despite running 23 fewer days than in 2019, a 48% decrease, all sources handle during the spring/summer meet totaled $386,654,955.The spring/summer meet generated $15,466,198 in average daily handle from all sources, a 42% increase over the 2019 spring/summer meet.

With significant COVID-19 health and safety protocols in place, including mandatory testing of all employees and on-track personnel, NYRA made the decision to conduct the 2020 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course as originally intended, albeit without spectators in attendance.

All-sources handle for the 2020 summer meet totaled $702,535,468 compared to $705,343,949 wagered from all sources on Saratoga in 2019.

In addition to pari-mutuel wagering, the remainder of the NYRA purse account is funded through VLT revenues generated by casinos located in downstate New York, most notably at Resorts World Casino at Aqueduct. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, all casinos in New York were closed on March 16.
The phased re-opening of the New York state economy authorized casinos to re-open to the public at 25 percent capacity on September 9, 2020.

Live racing resumes at Belmont Park on Friday, October 16 with a 10-race card and first post of 12:20 p.m. For more additional information, please visit NYRA.com.

2020 Belmont Purse Schedule starting October 18, 2020

CL. ALW: $90,000
NW3X/80: $88,000
NW2X/62.5: $84,000
NW1X: $82,000

NW2X/40 (NY): $74,000
NW1X (NY): $72,000

CLM 50,000: $65,000
CLM 40,000: $60,000
CLM 32,000: $55,000
CLM 25,000: $50,000
CLM 20,000: $44,000
CLM 16,000: $39,000
CLM 12,500: $35,000
CLM 10,000: $28,000
CLM 8,000: $22,000

CLM 40,000 NW3: $47,000
CLM 25,000 NW3: $37,000
CLM 14,000 NW3: $28,000

SA 50,000 NW2: $55,000
CLM 40,000 NW2: $45,000
CLM 25,000 NW2: $36,000
CLM 16,000 NW2; $28,000

STR 25,000: $50,000
STR 20,000: $45,000
STR 16,000: $40,000

MSW: $80,000
MSW (NY): $70,000
MCL 75,000: $54,000
MCL 50,000: $48,000
MCL 40,000: $43,000
MCL 30,000: $38,000
MCL 20,000: $32,000
MCL 40,000 (NY): $43,000
MCL 25,000 (NY): $35,000

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NYRA Announces Purse Increases Starting Oct. 18

The New York Racing Association, Inc. announced several purse increases which will take effect beginning Oct. 18 and continuing through the remainder of the Belmont Park fall meet.

Among purse increases: open maiden special weights will increase from $63,000 to $80,000 and New York-bred maiden special weights will rise from $52,000 to $70,000. Additionally,

purses for $25,000 open claiming company will see a $4,000 increase to $50,000, while the $40,000 maiden-claiming condition will now offer a purse of $43,000. For the complete list, click here.

“The myriad impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic–including the suspension of live racing and the closure of casinos across New York–forced NYRA to make significant adjustments to the purse structure to ensure operational continuity throughout the spring, summer and early part of the fall,” said NYRA Senior Vice President of Racing Operations Martin Panza. “NYRA made those strategic decisions early in the crisis so that we could restore our purses to near pre-pandemic levels as soon as possible to support New York’s horsemen and the 19,000 jobs connected to thoroughbred racing in New York.”

Panza continued, “Thanks to the incredibly strong wagering seen at Saratoga and into Belmont fall, coupled with the resumption of VLT revenues in early September, we are at this point even faster than expected. NYRA would like to thank Joe Appelbaum and the membership of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association for their hard work and collaboration in securing these increases.”

In addition to the purse increases, a retroactive purse payment for the first 16 days of the 27-day Belmont fall meet will be issued for 50% of the proposed purse increase. The retroactive adjustments are applicable to qualifying races starting on Sept. 18.

Following the Mar. 19 suspension of live racing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Belmont Park re-opened without spectators in attendance June 3 for an abbreviated 25-day spring/summer meet. Despite running 23 fewer days than in 2019, a 48% decrease, all sources handle during the spring/summer meet totaled $386,654,955. The spring/summer meet generated $15,466,198 in average daily handle from all sources, a 42% increase over the 2019 spring/summer meet.

All-sources handle for the 2020 Saratoga summer meet totaled $702,535,468 compared to $705,343,949 wagered from all sources on Saratoga in 2019.

For more additional information, please visit www.NYRA.com.

The post NYRA Announces Purse Increases Starting Oct. 18 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Mitchell Road Headlines 13-Horse Field In Saturday’s Floral Park Stakes

Graded stakes-winner Mitchell Road will get her first career test at Belmont Park when she competes as part of a full 13-horse field in Saturday's $80,000 Floral Park for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up contesting six furlongs on the Widener turf course.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Mitchell Road enters off a runner-up effort in the Grade 3 Kentucky Downs Ladies on September 12, earning a personal-best 96 Beyer Speed Figure after finishing a neck behind Regal Glory on September 12.

Owned by Mrs. J.V. Shields, Jr. and E. J. M. McFadden, Mitchell Road won the 2019 Grade 3 Gallorette at Pimlico Race Course as a 4-year-old and also has compiled a stakes win in the current campaign in the Ellis Park Turf on July 5 going 1 1/16 miles.

Jockey Junior Alvarado will pick up the mount from post 6.

Athlone Racing's Rose Flower will look for class relief after running sixth in the Grade 3 Intercontinental on June 6 over a yielding Belmont turf. Trainer Christophe Clement said he's been looking forward to getting the German-bred daughter of Dabirsim back on the track.

“Everything is good and she's training forwardly,” Clement said. “I've been waiting to race her for quite a while. There's been no problems going forward.”

Rose Flower has gone 1-0-2 in four starts since arriving from Europe last year, showing a propensity to sit near the rear of the field before employing a late kick, which resulted in her first North American win in October 2019 at Belmont.

“She's fine on soft turf but she can run on anything, firm or soft,” Clement said. “She's mostly a come-from-behind-type filly, but the main thing is that she hasn't run for a while, so we want to get her going.”

Joel Rosario has the call from post 9.

Owned by VinLaur Racing Stables, Dark Horse Racing Stables and Taste of Victory Stables, I'llhandalthecash won her first career stakes in her last appearance on the Belmont grass, digging in after a three-wide move in the upper stretch before outkicking Dalika by a half-length to capture the License Fee, held at the Floral Park distance, on July 3.

Trainer Ray Handal, for whom the horse is named, ran the 4-year-old Point of Entry filly back in the 5 ½-furlong Caress on August 1 at Saratoga, where she ran sixth. Following a 12th-place effort last out in her graded stakes debut over a soft turf course at Kentucky Downs in the Grade 3 Kentucky Downs on September 12, Handal said he is excited to return to a venue where she has already achieved success, earning a career-best 90 Beyer in her last win.

“She's doing good; she didn't do a whole lot of running last time,” Handal said. “I think we got shuffled back a bit early and we weren't in the spot we wanted to be in and couldn't do much about it. She got stuck on the inside and the track that day wasn't good anywhere, but it was at its absolute worst at the rail. It was like a bog. So I just treaded lightly and I penciled this spot in and she came out of it really well and she's given me all the signs that she's ready to get back at it.”

Jockey Dylan Davis will pick up the mount for the first time, drawing post 3.

With the forecast calling for a chance of rain Saturday, Handal also entered Overheated for the main track only. The 5-year-old daughter of Distorted Humor, out of the multiple graded-stakes winning Malibu Moon mare Hot Summer, ran second on August 6 at Saratoga and mostly recently was fourth in a starter allowance on September 27 at Belmont.

“She always shows up and runs her race and it's all dependent on where she lands,” Handal said. “She's worth a lot of money as a broodmare, so we're picking our spots and placing her properly. She's always been in a little above her head because we don't want to put her in for a tag. But she's improved since she's been here and she doesn't mind a sloppy track.”

Barry Ostrager's Sunny Dale has run second in back-to-back races, starting with the Dr. Teresa Garofalo Memorial in September at Parx before another runner-up effort against allowance company on the same track on September 30. Trained by Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer, Sunny Dale has finished second or third in her last five starts.

Irad Ortiz, Jr. will be in the irons from post 11.

VinLaur Racing Stables' Xanthique has one win and two second-place efforts in four starts of her 4-year-old year. The Tom Morley trainee bested allowance company in her previous Belmont start, winning at one mile on the turf on June 28.

Hall of Famer Javier Castellano drew the assignment and will break from post 5.

Getmotherarose, winner of the Grade 3 Honey Fox in February at Gulfstream Park, will make her eighth consecutive stakes start and is looking to atone for an eight-place finish in the Grade 3 Noble Damsel going one mile on the Belmont grass on September 26.

Conditioned by Tom Bush, Getmotherarose has registered three of her five career wins at Belmont. Eric Cancel will ride from post 4.

Rounding out the field is Bohemian Bourbon, third in the Grade 2 Royal North on July 18 at Woodbine, for trainer Ian Wilkes [post 1, Jose Lezcano]; Saratoga Treasure, who ran third in both the Hessonite and Smart N Fancy in two of her last three starts [post 10, Jose Ortiz]; for conditioner David Donk; Lead Guitar, winner of two straight optional claimers, including on September 20 at Belmont, for George Weaver [post 8, Luis Saez]; My Sassy Sarah, an allowance winner on July 19 over Saratoga's turf before running seventh in the Grade 3 Lake George last out on August 28, for Jorge Abreu [post 2, Hall of Famer John Velazquez]; and Elle's Town, an allowance winner in her previous start for trainer Karl Broberg [post 7, Kendrick Carmouche].

The David Cannizzo-trained Slimey is also entered for the main track only.

Saturday's 10-race card will feature a 12:20 p.m. Eastern first post. America's Day at the Races will present daily television coverage of the 27-day fall meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete America's Day at the Races broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

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