Saturday’s Cross Country Pick 5 Features Action From Belmont, Monmouth, Woodbine

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will host a Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday featuring racing action from Belmont Park, Monmouth Park in Oceanport, New Jersey and Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.

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.

Action commences in Race 7 [4:06 p.m. Eastern] at Belmont Park, when a field of nine older fillies and mares seek a first-level allowance triumph going seven furlongs over the main track. Breaking from the rail, Juddmonte Farms' Entreat makes her first start since a victorious career debut on September 25 at Churchill Downs for trainer Chad Brown. Jeff Drown and Don Rachel's Iaintfraidanoghost cuts back in distance after a four-length victory on February 28 at Aqueduct. Trained by Jeremiah Englehart, the daughter of Ghostzapper scored at fourth asking in a one-turn mile over a muddy and sealed track.

Action shifts to Woodbine Racetrack for the second leg – a 5 ½-furlong maiden optional claiming event over the all-weather surface. Praven Sorenson and Wayne Oliver's Thatsmykindanight seeks a first career win following two runner up finishes as the 2-1 morning line favorite. Carded as Race 7, the second leg of the sequence has a scheduled post time of 4:20 p.m.

The middle leg brings stakes action to the table when Monmouth Park hosts the Grade 3, $150,000 Salvator Mile [Race 10, 4:28 p.m.]. Defending winner Pirate's Punch invades from Kentucky for trainer Grant Forster, making his first start since finishing 12th in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile in November at Keeneland. John Fanelli, Cash Is King, LC Racing, Paul Braverman and Team Hanley's Ny Traffic returns to Monmouth Park after a narrow defeat in last year's Grade 1 Haskell Invitational. Trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr., Ny Traffic arrives off his best Beyer Speed Figure yet when garnering a 103 when defeating his New York-bred counterparts by 6 ¾ lengths going seven furlongs at Belmont Park.

Woodbine gets back in on the action in an open maiden special weight for 3-year-olds and upward going one mile over the turf for Race 8 [4:51 p.m.]. Hall of Famer Roger Attfield sends out regally-bred Speightstown Shirl – a daughter of prolific sire Speightstown out of 2011 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Perfect Shirl – for her fourth start after finishing second in all three previous efforts. Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber's Astrological, a bay daughter of Malibu Moon and half-sister to 2018 Woodbine Oaks winner Dixie Moon, makes her career debut for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse.

A field of 11 turf maiden special weight aspirants closes the curtains on the sequence in a 1 1/16-mile event, carded as Race 11 with a 4:58 p.m. post. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will debut Lumino, a son of Medaglia d'Oro out of Exotic Bloom. Owned by Phoenix Thoroughbreds, the 4-year-old dark bay is a half-sibling to 2015 Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Stopchargingmaria and was bought for $2.1 million from the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Pletcher also sends out Jackpot Farm's Freer, who makes his second career start after finishing second on April 24 at Gulfstream Park.

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, June 12:
Leg A: Belmont Park – Race 7 (4:06 p.m.)
Leg B: Woodbine – Race 7 (4:20 p.m.)
Leg C: Monmouth Park – Race 10, G3, $150,000 Salvator Mile (4:28 p.m.)
Leg D: Woodbine – Race 8 (4:51 p.m.)
Leg E: Monmouth Park – Race 11 (4:58 p.m.)

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Woodbine’s 2021 Meet To Open Saturday, June 12

With Ontario entering Step One of the 'Roadmap to Reopen' plan earlier than originally expected, Woodbine Entertainment announced Monday that the 2021 Thoroughbred Meet at Woodbine Racetrack will open this Saturday, June 12 with a 1:20 p.m. post time.

The meet will continue Sunday with a 1:20 p.m. post time, followed by racing on Friday, June 18, Saturday, June 19 and Sunday June 20, before continuing with its typical four race days a week schedule (Thursday through Sunday). To help make up for some last race days, Woodbine plans to add additional races to its race cards during the first two weekends of racing.

“While it has been a very frustrating period, I would like to thank the Government of Ontario for the recent attention it has given the horse racing industry,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “In particular, I would like to thank Premier Doug Ford for his understanding and interest in the plight of the horse racing industry that has been so greatly impacted by the global pandemic and ensuing government restrictions.”

Live racing at Woodbine Racetrack will operate without any spectators due to government restrictions.

“Although our industry has been substantially impacted, I do very much remain confident in the future of horse racing in Ontario and look forward to getting back on track later this week,” Lawson added. “On behalf of Woodbine Entertainment, thank you to our horse people for their patience, professionalism, and resiliency they continue to demonstrate, especially in face of adversity.”

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Stakes Schedule Released for Delayed Woodbine Meet

Woodbine has released a stakes schedule for its 2021 Thoroughbred meet, which has been delayed from its Apr. 17 scheduled opening due to COVID-19 restrictions in the province of Ontario. As it stands, the track is targeting a June 18 start date, with the possibility of opening sooner.

The stakes program offers more than C$16.5 million in purses, including 39 graded events and two million-dollar races, the Queen's Plate–still on its original Aug. 22 date–and the Sept. 18 GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile, one of three “Win and You're” in races for the Breeders' Cup on that blockbuster weekend. Following the Queen's Plate, the subsequent legs of the Canadian Triple Crown will be the Price of Wales S. at Fort Erie Sept. 14 and Breeders' S. back at Woodbine Oct. 3.

“We are pleased that we were able to avoid major changes to our stakes schedule, setting up for an exciting 2021 Thoroughbred season at Woodbine,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “As a result if the delayed start, we expect our season to start strong and build momentum as it heads into the summer with The Queen's Plate and its prep races, followed by a really exciting stakes schedule in the fall, including an unprecedented Ricoh Woodbine Mile weekend that includes two other Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' races, and the return of the Pattison Canadian International.”

For the complete 2021 Woodbine stakes schedule, click here.

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Woodbine Unveils Updated Stakes Schedule Worth Over $16.5 Million

Woodbine Entertainment today unveiled its updated stakes schedule for the 2021 Thoroughbred racing season at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.

The commencement of the 2021 Thoroughbred season, originally scheduled for April 17, at Woodbine Racetrack has been delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions in the province of Ontario. Based on recent Government announcements, Woodbine Entertainment is targeting June 18 as a start date for the Thoroughbred season, with the possibility of the start date occurring earlier.

The lucrative 2021 Thoroughbred stakes program offers more than $16.5 million in stakes purses, 39 graded stakes and two $1 million classics, The Queen's Plate and Ricoh Woodbine Mile (Grade 1).

The delayed start of the 2021 Thoroughbred season has forced Woodbine Entertainment to restructure the dates for the majority of its stakes races. Despite the delay, Woodbine was able to maintain the original dates for most of its marquee races.

“We are pleased that we were able to avoid major changes to our stakes schedule, setting up for an exciting 2021 Thoroughbred season at Woodbine,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “As a result if the delayed start, we expect our season to start strong and build momentum as it heads into the summer with The Queen's Plate and its prep races, followed by a really exciting stakes schedule in the fall, including an unprecedented Ricoh Woodbine Mile weekend that includes two other Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' races, and the return of the Pattison Canadian International.”

The Queen's Plate remains on its original date of Sunday, August 22, with this year's running marking the 162nd edition of the iconic race. The Ricoh Woodbine Mile (Grade 1), a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” race, returning $600,000 Pattison Canadian International (Grade 1) and $250,000 Canadian Stakes (Grade 2) will be contested on Saturday, September 18. The Natalma (Grade 1) and Summer (Grade 1), each with boosted purses of $400,000 and part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, will run on Sunday, September 19. The $600,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes (Grade 1) and $250,000 Nearctic Stakes (Grade 2) remain slated for Sunday, October 17 and will be contested on the world-renowned mile and a half E.P. Taylor Turf Course.

With most marquee events remaining untouched on the schedule, the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser and $150,000 Plate Trial, a key prep race for the Queen's Plate, have been moved back a week from Sunday, July 25 to Sunday, August 1.

The dates for the Canadian Triple Crown legs remain intact, with the $1 million Queen's Plate on August 22, $400,000 Prince of Wales at Fort Erie on September 14 and $400,000 Breeders' Stakes on October 3.

Throughout the recent shutdown of racing in Ontario, Woodbine Entertainment has remained committed to offering as much of its 2021 stakes program as possible through rescheduling and strategic planning. The majority of Woodbine's original stakes schedule has received a facelift to accommodate the new starting date and racing opportunities.

The entire updated 2021 Thoroughbred stakes schedule can be viewed here.

Earlier this year, Woodbine Entertainment announced all Grade 3 stakes would receive a purse increase of 20 per cent, while Listed races would be boosted from $100,000 to $125,000. This announcement was made in conjunction with news of the returning Pattison Canadian International and purse increases for the $400,000 Natalma Stakes (Grade 1), $400,000 Summer Stakes (Grade 1) and $350,000 Highlander Stakes (Grade 1).

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