Oaklawn Racetrack is set to restart horse racing on Thursday with a 10-race lineup, highlighted by the $150,000 Fifth Season Stakes for older horses competing over one mile. Originally scheduled to begin on January 30, the fifth season start was delayed due to a severe winter storm that forced the track to close for nine days, causing Oaklawn to shift the January 30 through February 1 races to this week. The track had wrapped up a 13-day holiday racing schedule on January 4.
Post time for the fifth season’s eighth race is estimated at 3:57 PM Central, with the card beginning at 12:30 PM. Nine horses are slated to compete in the Fifth Season Stakes; however, at least three, including the 8-5 favorite Pony Express and Group 3 winner Komorebino Omoide, are expected to be scratched, according to Oaklawn Racing Bureau’s Tuesday morning report.
Speed King, originally the 5-2 second choice, is aiming for his second career win at Oaklawn Stakes after dominating the 1 1/16-mile, $1 million Southwest (G3) last January. Following that victory, Speed King ran locally over longer distances but struggled, finishing 10th in the $1.25 million Rebel Stakes (G2) and sixth in the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1). More recently, Speed King placed fifth in the Maxfield Stakes at Churchill Downs in June and fourth in the Allowance Sprint there in November.
Trainer Ron Mockett, speaking about Speed King’s recent form for co-owner Ted Bowman, noted, “We gave him his first race there knowing he’d face tough competition. People say he ran well in his career debut, but that was against maidens. The Maxfield was a solid stakes-level horse. This gives Speed King a bit of a break to recover and get ready.”
In his latest run at Oaklawn on December 26, Speed King posted a swift 1:09.45 over six furlongs, winning by five and a half lengths and snapping a four-race losing streak. That race marked his first try at two turns since the Arkansas Derby, with jockey Luis Saez riding and Speed King starting from the ninth post.
“Our goal was to get him ready to run here,” Mockett said. “Knock on wood, we’re here—now let’s see where we stand.”
Other entries for the Fifth Season Stakes include Seize the Night, Thoughtthatcounts, Woodcourt, American Law, Runaway Again, and Will Take It. Will Take It is coming off a win in the $300,000 Hanshin Stakes over one mile at Churchill Downs last June, trained by Dallas Stewart.
Seize the Night won the $175,000 Tinsel Stakes at Oaklawn over 1 1/8 miles in January 2025. Woodcourt has yet to win in nine stakes starts but secured third in the Illinois Derby and fourth in the Rebel (G2) last year. Both are trained by Cipriano Contreras.
American Law will make his stakes debut for Sarah Shafer, who became an independent trainer last summer. He earned Shafer her first career win in a one-mile allowance race at Oaklawn in December. American Law is also entered in Friday’s $135,000 General MacArthur Overnight Stakes at 1 1/8 miles and is expected to run in the Fifth Season Stakes as well.
Thoughtthatcounts and Runaway Again, both trained by David Jacobson, are also part of the field, though one of Jacobson’s runners is anticipated to be scratched due to injury. Notably, Runaway Again claimed victory in the Prince of Wales Stakes, the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, last September in his only dirt start.
This article originally appeared in the Paulick Report on February 3, 2026.
Fan Take: This update highlights Oaklawn’s resilience in overcoming weather setbacks to resume major racing events, signaling renewed excitement for fans and connections alike. The presence of seasoned contenders like Speed King and promising newcomers offers thrilling prospects that could shape the sport’s competitive landscape this season.
