The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will host a Cross Country Pick 5 wager on the first four Saturdays in October, featuring selected races from Belmont Park and Keeneland. This multi-race, multi-track bet challenges players to pick the winners of five designated races from tracks nationwide, with a minimum bet set at 50 cents. Available through NYRA Bets, ADW platforms, and simulcast outlets across the country, each weekly sequence guarantees a mandatory payout of the net pool. The Cross Country Pick 5 offers a competitive low takeout of 15 percent and includes races from Belmont and partnering tracks.
The event will take place on October 3, 10, 17, and 24, beginning with an all-Grade 1 lineup from Belmont Park and Keeneland. Free past performances for the Cross Country Pick 5 can be downloaded at https://racing.nyrabets.com/special-wagers. Saturday’s sequence starts around 3:53 p.m. Eastern time with Belmont’s Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne Stakes (Race 8), followed by the Grade 1, $500,000 Frizette Stakes (Race 9 at 4:31 p.m.). The action then moves to Keeneland for the Grade 1, $800,000 First Lady Stakes (Race 8 at 4:44 p.m.), the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity (Race 9 at 5:16 p.m.), and closes with the Grade 1 Turf Mile (Race 10 at 5:48 p.m.).
Highlighting the sequence, the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes— a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile—features U.S.S. Valor, a standout Saratoga winner who posted the highest Beyer Speed Figure of 105 for esteemed trainer Shug McGaughey. Rivals include War of Will bay Gaudreau, trained by Chad Brown, who previously bested U.S.S. Valor in their debut race. Brown, a five-time Eclipse Award winner, also brings Libby Lloyd in the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes, fresh off a dominant 10-length Saratoga debut win and sharing the highest Beyer figure of 78 with notable competitors like New York stakes winner Velora and Spa maiden winner Rum Twist.
The Grade 1 First Lady welcomes a wide open field of eleven, with dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse showcasing G1 winners Classic Q and And One More Time. Brendan Walsh sends two strong contenders: Lush Lips and Expensive Queen, the latter having four wins in five starts, including a dead heat victory in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley race against Brown’s Segesta. In the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity, another “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, increased attention centers on Coach Pope, trained by Kenny McPeek, who impressively won by 12 1/2 lengths at Churchill Downs. The race also features Q B Rocket, moving up in class for Brad Cox, a dual Eclipse Award-winning trainer.
The sequence wraps up with the Grade 1 Turf Mile, a Breeders’ Cup Mile qualifier where Brown’s Zulu Kingdom aims for his third G1 win. He’ll face tough competition from Rhetorical, the reigning New York-bred Horse of the Year, seeking to repeat the achievement for trainer Will Walden.
Belmont Park offers general admission at $7 when purchased in advance, providing access to grandstand seating, the first-floor grandstand areas, and the backyard. Tickets and further details are available at https://www.nyra.com/belmont/tickets/. America’s Day at the Races will deliver daily coverage and expert analysis of the fall meet at Belmont Park, broadcast on FOX Sports networks. For the full TV schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule/. NYRA Bets serves as the official wagering platform for Belmont Park and is accessible nationwide via its iOS and Android apps at www.NYRABets.com.
This article was first published on October 1, 2026, by Paulick Report in the Horseplayers section.
Fan Take: This upcoming Cross Country Pick 5 series is a thrilling chance for horse racing enthusiasts to engage with some of the sport’s most prestigious Grade 1 races across multiple top tracks. By spotlighting key Breeders’ Cup qualifiers and highlighting top trainers and rising stars, NYRA is helping to increase the national excitement and accessibility of horse racing, which is vital for growing the fanbase and enhancing competitiveness in the sport.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
