The Cross Country Pick 4 begins at Saratoga with the last two races at the Spa, and concludes at Emerald Downs with the $65,000 Emerald Distaff and the Grade 3, $200,000 Longacrers Mile. There is a gap between the last race at Saratoga, 6:18 p.m. Eastern or 3:18 Pacific, and the Distaff at 5:51 Pacific.

We will assume (9) Noble Freud will be fine running on turf for the first time for trainer Chad Brown, and single her in the first leg of the sequence. She is coming off a third-place finish in the Grade 3, Victory Ride behind American Gal who romped in the Grade 1, Test in her next start.

Race 10 has been washed off the turf which leaves us with (3) Strong Side and (12) Itsabigboy as the main players in the 1 1/8 miles race on the main track.

The Distaff, Race 7 at Emerald, appears to be contentious race. Using (3) Citizen Kitty, (4) Victress, (5) Blazinbeauty, (6) Little Dancer and (9) Plastered.

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is shooting for his second straight win in the premier race in the Pacific Northwest and could get it with either (2) Point Piper, last year's winner, or (6) Seattle Serenade, my top choice. Also using the best local horse, (9) Mach One Rules.

A 50-cent Pick 4 in numerical order of 9 with 3,12 with 3,4,5,6,9, with 2,6,9 costs $15.

The track is fast at Emerald with a current tempeture of 70 degrees Fahrenheit.