How to bet Saturday’s Cross Country Pick 4 on a budget

The New York Racing Association will on Saturday host a Cross Country Pick 4 featuring races from Belmont Park and Kentucky Downs.

Saturday's Pick 4 sequence starts with the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint, carded as Race 6 at Kentucky Downs with a scheduled post time of 4:55 p.m. ET. It will be followed by Race 8 at Belmont (5:13 p.m.), an entry level allowance turf sprint for New York-breds; Race 7 at Kentucky Downs, the Grade 3, $500,000 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf (5:26 p.m.); as conclude with Race 9 at Belmont, an entry level allowance sprint on the inner turf course at 5:49 p.m.

The Cross Country Pick 4 has a minimum bet of 50 cents and can be played through NYRA Bets, ADW platforms, on-track and at simulcast facilities across the country. 

Once again, I will use one of my favorite cost-effective Pick 4 wagering strategies, the spread ticket formula. It would cost $300 to lump all of my contenders on one ticket, but the spread ticket formula knocks the price down to a much more reasonable $56.

Primary - #8 LIFE MISSION, #2 Chattel

Secondary - #10 Moonlight Romance, #11 Mae Never No, #3 Faraway Kitten

Comments: #8 Life Mission (4-1) landed the show in both turf sprint starts in Ireland and he faced 24 rivals when last seen Aug 25. Geroux rides for Colebrook. #2 Chattel (5-1) exits back-to-back turf sprint wins and he exceeded the winning par for this in the Skidmore at Saratoga on Aug. 17. #10 Moonlight Romance (5-1) romped in her lone U.S. turf sprint May 24. She shipped to Ascot and ended up 13th of 28 in her last start June 23. Ward removes blinkers, and Jose Ortiz hops aboard. #11 Mae Never No (5-1) won two of her three starts on dirt, including a romping score in the slop in the Colleen Aug 4. She is also a Ward trainee. #3 Faraway Kitten (12-1) gamely went all the way in his extended sprint debut on all-weather footing at Woodbine. He is bred to handle turf and Gaffalione wins races with Maker. 

Primary - #8 GHOST GIANT, #1 Jupiter Rising

Secondary - #3 Not So Quiet Man, #4 Outrageous Bet

Comments: #8 Ghost Giant (4-1) has improved since moving to the Abreu barn and he looked good graduating in a turf sprint at the Spa on Aug. 1. #1 Jupiter Rising (5-2) has tried this distance once on turf, and he stalked, pounced and scored in that local $40k maiden claimer last year. #3 Not So Quiet Man (3-1) upset $12.5k claimers at one mile at Monmouth on June 30, and he won a five-furlong turf sprint at Meadowlands last year. Castellano got to know him on yielding turf at Saratoga last time. #4 Outrageous Bet (2-1) missed by a head on yielding ground at Saratoga last time, and both of his wins were at Belmont, including one at this distance. 

Primary - #8 IN THE LEE, #6 Pas de Soucis

Secondary - #3 Storm the Hill, #1 I’m Betty G, #9 Insta Erma

Comments: #8 In the Lee (5-1) is a decent turf performer for McGaghey and Jose Ortiz is two-for-two with her. She runs well fresh. #6 Pas de Soucis (8-1) fired trifecta shots in all four U.S. starts, and the versatile mare will likely stalk the pace under Prat. #3 Storm the Hill (4-1) looked good winning the Grade 3 Wilshire at this distance for D’Amato June 24 and she is clearly most effective up to one mile. #1 I’m Betty G (7-2) owns dangerous early speed and Maker usually sends out live runners at Kentucky Downs. She seeks a four-bagger and might get it if she shakes loose early under Gaffalione. #9 Insta Erma (6-1) disappointed in her last pair, but she has run more than one competitive race vs. this kind. She could easily bounce back for Van Dyke and Baltas. 

Primary - #6 VIOLENT TIMES, #9 length

Secondary - #7 Orecchiette, #4 Majestic Won, #5 Eloweasel, #10 Kundray

Comments: #6 Violent Times (9-2) switched to turf and finished a solid second at 29-1 last time. Nicks excels with his second turf starters, and she looms a pace factor at the very least. #9 Length (9-2) earned a decent number in a turf sprint maiden win at Saratoga on good turf July 29. #7 Orecchiette (5-2) is fast enough to go all the way for Castellano and Thomas. She won back-to-back local turf sprints at this distance prior to her 2nd in a Suffolk stakes Aug 4. #4 Majestic Won (8-1) looked good graduating at this course and distance July 11, and might be able to bounce back third off the shelf after fading to seventh as the favorite in a similar Saratoga turf sprint Aug 11. #5 Eloweasel (4-1) ran well in her last four state bred starts including a sprint win on good Saratoga turf under today’s rider Johnny V Aug 6. #10 Kundray (5-1) moved to the Thomas barn off a long layoff and held on to win a local extended sprint turf affair June 22.