This week in horse racing: Oaklawn opens Friday

Oaklawn Park's new season starts Friday and runs through Kentucky Derby Day on May 6th. A track record 45 stakes races will be offered and total nearly $14 million purses. The opening day feature is the Advent Stakes for the 2-year-olds. Saturday's co-features are the Ring the Bell and Mistletoe Stake.

David Cabrera, Francisco Arrieta, Ricardo Santana Jr., Ramon Vazquez, Florent Geroux, Steve Asmussen, Robertino Diodoro, Brad Cox, John Ortiz, Karl Broberg, Chris Hartman are the top jockeys and trainers at Oaklawn. Los Alamitos hosts the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes for 2-year-old fillies on Saturday.

Oaklawn opens Friday. Fair Grounds presents eight stakes races on Saturday for Louisiana Champions Day. Gulfstream Park offers 2-year-old turf stakes on the Pulpit and Wait A While on that day. Golden Gate Fields has Saturday and Sunday stakes with the Bear Fan and Miss America. Sunday is the closing day of the racing year at Woodbine with mandatory payouts in all pools.

John Haran has four horses entered on opening day of Oaklawn racing season on Friday. They are Bicarb Betty, Wipe the Slate, Skyline and C.J.’s Storm.

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This week in horse racing, Oaklawn opens Friday. December Sweepstakes Continues All Month. Every bet at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet enters players into random drawings at month’s end worth $20,000. Top prize is a $1,00 wagering credit.