How to bet the 2024 Fifth Season Stakes

A well-matched field of eight will travel one mile on the Oaklawn Park dirt in Saturday’s $150,000 Fifth Season S. The two-turn test features multiple contenders who prefer to be forwardly placed in general, so I’ll take a chance with a horse who will do his running from off of the early tempo. 

Fifth Season Wagers

• $15 win and place #4 Seize the Night ($30)
• $2 trifecta 4 with 5,8 with all ($24)

#4 Seize the Night is a two-time winner on the oval and will save ground throughout in the heat. The five-year-old, who will be saddled by Eddie Milligan for the initial time, was last seen checking in an even fourth in the Tinsel S. at 1 1/8 miles on the course most recently and will cut back in distance to his benefit. The Carpe Diem chestnut faces arguably a softer field compared to his latest contest, and the Kentucky bred will receive a great setup to run this cast down late with Christian Torres picking up the mount. 

#5 Kupuna has not won in more than 11 months, but the Bret Calhoun trainee has the back class combined with a 3-2-1-0 local mark to be considered a major threat in his second run since August. This Hard Spun gelding is very alert from the gate and also likes this distance, so if he can endure a sensible voyage while forwardly placed, then the five-year-old dark bay will be tough to keep out of the top three under the guidance of Nik Juarez. 

#8 Nautical Star is a talented sprinter who will try to stretch out to eight furlongs in this one for conditioner Chris Hartman. This Dixie Chatter colt rallied to a fine allowance win over a sloppy, sealed oval here in his latest outing, and the four-year-old is interesting against this cast despite drawing outside in the field. The Oklahoma bred drilled a bullet five-eighths leading up to this endeavor, and he will surely move forward if there is some moisture in the ground, as well. Chris Landeros retains the mount atop the dark bay.