Five trainers inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame have strings this year at Oaklawn, including one whose rise to national prominence began more than 40 years ago in Hot Springs.

HOT SPRINGS, AR (Friday, Jan. 24, 2020) – Oaklawn’s nine-race card Saturday is highlighted by the split $100,000 Fifth Season for older horses at a mile and the $100,000 Pippin for older fillies and mares at a mile. Racing begins Saturday at 1:05 p.m. (Central), with probable post time for the first division of the Fifth Season, race 5, 3:08 p.m. Probable post time for the Pippin, race 7, is 4:09 p.m. The second division of the Fifth Season goes as race 8, with probable post time 4:38 p.m. (Central).

The last time trainer Shane Wilson started a horse at Oaklawn was 2005 and it was for a $7,500 claiming price. The stakes will be considerably higher Saturday when the south-Louisiana-based Wilson sends out Mocito Rojo for his local debut in the $100,000 Fifth Season Stakes for older horses at a mile.

One entrant in the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes for 3-year-olds opening day Friday at Oaklawn landed in Steve Haskin’s first 2020 Derby Dozen released earlier this in week on the industry web site BloodHorse.com, but it wasn’t the Grade 1 winner, the Grade 2 winner or the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) starter.

Mark Casse had the Midas touch last year in Triple Crown races/preps, and the trainer will try to add to that success when he sends out lightly raced Lynn’s Map in Friday’s $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes at 1 mile, Oaklawn’s first of four Kentucky Derby points races.

Oaklawn kicks off its 116th live racing season this Friday, January 24 with a special 12:30 p.m. first post. The 57-day season is highlighted by a record $35 million in total purses, 33 stakes races, including four $1 million stakes, new promotions, and more infield days.

Oaklawn, which made history last year when it split the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) into two $750,000 divisions, is kicking off its 2020 season with another significant stakes split. On Saturday, Jan. 25 (the day after the live meet begins), Oaklawn will split the 31st running of the $100,000 Fifth Season into two $100,000 races due to the large number of four-year-olds and above wanting to run.

Nine horses, including four from Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, were entered Friday in the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 24, a 1-mile race that is Oaklawn’s first of four Kentucky Derby points races.

The Oaklawn racing office listed seven horses late Thursday morning as probable for the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 24, a 1-mile race that kicks off the local road to the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 11.

The Southern California invasion is underway at Oaklawn and among the big names already on the grounds in advance of the Jan. 24 opening is jockey Joe Talamo.