Horak: How I'm betting Saturday's Cross Country Pick 5

The New York Racing Association will on Saturday will host an all-stakes Cross Country Pick 5 featuring races from Aqueduct, Oaklawn Park, and Tampa Bay Downs.

The sequence, which begins at 4:25 p.m. ET, has a minimum bet of 50 cents and can be played on track, at simulcast facilities or through advanced deposit wagering platforms. In betting it, I'll use one of my favorite cost-effective Pick 5 wagering strategies, the spread ticket formula. It would cost $360 to lump all of my contenders on one ticket, but the spread ticket formula knocks the price down to a much more affordable $40.

Aqueduct Race 8 (Jimmy Winkfield Stakes, 7f)

Primary - #3 Montauk Traffic, #6 Quixotic 

Secondary - #1 Newstome, #2 Secret Rules

Comments: The Pick 5 begins with a competitive sophomore sprint. Montauk Traffic dwelt at the start in his local debut in the slop. Second time out on a fast track was a different story. He stalked inside and rolled by four-plus lengths Dec. 28 at this distance. Quixotic stalked and finished second as a 23-1 longshot in his bow. He went straight to the front in his second start and was well clear as the chalk. Newstome only shows one below-par effort, and that was on turf. The solid Pennsylvania-bred won three of his other four starts. Secret Rules exits back-to-back local wins for Bill Mott. He looks like the one to catch.

Tampa Bay Downs Race 9 (Suncoast Stakes, 1 mile 40 yds)

Primary - #4 Motu, #7 Blame Debbie

Secondary - #8 Turtle Trax

Comments: The two favorites look solid in this Kentucky Oaks points race. Motu showed plenty of promise last year and earned quality late pace ratings in her last two stakes starts around two turns. Blame Debbie exits a good third in the Demoiselle (G2) on Dec. 7. The Aqueduct main track was speed-favoring that day, and she just missed second by a neck. Turtle Trax deserves another chance around two turns after finishing fifth of eight in the slop in the Golden Rod. (G2) She won back-to-back sprints before that.

Tampa Bay Downs Race 10 (G3 Tampa Bay Stakes, 8.5T)

Primary - #1 March to the Arch

Secondary - #2 Devamani, #4 Caribou Club, #5 Renaisance Frolic, #7 Hembree

Comments: March to the Arch won despite getting no pace help in a Florida-bred stakes on Jan. 18 at Gulfstream Park Jan. He captured a Grade 2 affair at Churchill last year and fits perfectly from a class, current form, and race shape standpoint. Devamani is now trained by Chad Brown and should get pace to chase. Caribou Club is a multiple graded winner with a 2-for-2 record at this distance. Renaisance Frolic had his three-race win streak snapped in the slop Dec. 21. His new trainer, Saffie Joseph Jr., is sending out live runners at Tampa Bay. Hembree is a late runner with a touch of class. 

Tampa Bay Downs Race 11 (G3 Sam F. Davis Stakes, 8.5f)

Primary - #1 Ajaaweed, #4 Independence Hall

Secondary - #6 Premier Star

Comments: Ajaaweed caught a speed-favoring track and got no pace help in the Remsen (G2). Despite those disadvantages, he was getting to lone speed Shotski late. He is a strong late threat if he gets pace to chase. Independence Hall is going to win if he runs back to his razor-sharp Nashua (G3) victory. He made mistakes and was not as fast in the Jerome lat time. Premier Star won both of his extended sprints at Gulfstream as the favorite. He will almost certainly impact the pace in his longest and toughest test to date. 

Oaklawn Park Race 8 (King Cotton Stakes, 6f)

Primary - #1 Share the Upside

Secondary - #4 Whitmore, #5 Nun the Less, #8 Wilbo

Comments: In a race with a bit of a muddled pace scenario, Share the Upside might be the one to catch from the rail. Whitmore is probably going to score if he can summon his back class. He has dropped six straight versus better and seemed to lose a step last year. Nun the Less is a late runner with competitive numbers, and Wilbo is a consistent 8-year-old gelding with tactical speed and the outside post.