Oaklawn officials have announced that the purse for the Fifth Season Stakes, for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/6 miles on April 9, has been raised to $100,000 guaranteed. The race was originally scheduled at $50,000 guaranteed.
"This race returns to our schedule after it was not run last year," noted Oaklawn general manager, Eric Jackson. "We think that raising the purse is appropriate, given the quality of horses we have here that will not yet be ready for the level of comptetion of the Oaklawn Handicap on April 5. Many in racing," he added, "are tracking graded races and we understand that attaining and retaining graded stakes races requires a minimum purse of $100,000. We're happy to be in a position where we can take the Fifth Season Stakes to that level this year."