Oaklawn: How to bet the Fifth Season Stakes on Jan. 15

A fantastic cast has been assembled to contest the $150,000 Fifth Season S. at Oaklawn Park on Saturday. The graded stakes-quality field attracted nine in what figures to be a very exciting one-mile feature.

Fifth Season Wagers

• $1 trifecta 3, 4 with 3, 4, 5 with all ($28)
• 50-cent superfecta 3, 4 with 3, 4, 5 with 1, 3, 4, 5 with all ($24)

There will be a good deal of early pace in the field, with the in-form #1 Thomas Shelby (5-1) being sent from the fence and tracked by 2021 Rebel S. (G2) winner #5 Concert Tour (5-2), as well as recent sprint allowance victor #9 Mucho (7-2). The abundance of early zip in the fray has me thinking that the winner will come from the next flight, and I fancy a pair of value runners in the heat.

#4 Necker Island (9-2) has been placed over his head at times, but when the five-year-old is matched with horses of his caliber, he often delivers for conditioner Chris Hartman. The chestnut son of Hard Spun was sharp in his Bet on Sunshine S. victory at Churchill Downs two back, which preceded an even fourth on the Fair Grounds dirt in the Thanksgiving Classic S. The Kentucky-bred has trained well since, and I love the stretch out in distance today. Francisco Arrieta has the riding assignment.

#3 Snapper Sinclair (6-1) fires on every surface and at every distance for the most part for Steve Asmussen. The seven-year-old has compiled a fine 9-2-3-1 mark on the surface in his lifetime, and the stalker is a three-time winner at the eight-furlong trip. He has good tactical foot and will track the tempo from near midpack early on before doing his best work in the lane with Ramon Vazquez in the stirrups.

Concert Tour is the wildcard in my opinion as he makes his four-year-old debut off the long layoff. Now in the hands of Brad Cox, the Street Sense colt began his career with a trio of superb tallies last season, but he tired late when third at 3-10 odds in the Arkansas Derby (G1) prior to never firing in the Preakness S. (G1).

The bay might simply be the most talented horse in the field, and he figures to receive a fine voyage forcing the pace while second early on, but the colt landed in a tough spot for his comeback attempt. I will surely use the two-time Grade 2 star in many plays, but I am not in love with him as a single at anticipated short odds.