Speed King Headlines Oaklawn's Fifth Season Stakes

With the Southwest Stakes (G3) set for Feb. 6, it's only fitting that the winner of last year's edition also returns this weekend at Oaklawn Park. Speed King , who posted a 14-1 upset in the 2025 Southwest, is set to make his 4-year-old debut in the Feb. 5 Fifth Season Stakes. 

Trained by Ron Moquett, the aptly named speedster does his best running when setting the pace, leading at every call in each of his three career wins. Following the Southwest win, he finished off the board in the Rebel Stakes (G2) when rating midpack, and faded to sixth after a heated pace duel in the Arkansas Derby (G1). Given time off after finishing fifth in the Maxfield Stakes in June, Speed King came back with a fourth in an allowance-level race at Churchill Downs Nov. 8.

Returning to Oaklawn in December, Speed King notched his first win since the Southwest, drawing off to post a front-running, 5 1/2-length victory in a 6-furlong allowance.

"Our goal was to get him ready to run here," trainer Ron Moquett said. "Knock on wood, we're here, so let's lead him over and see where we're at." 

Moquett trains the Volatile   colt for owners Triton Thoroughbreds, Naber Racing, Bryan Hennigan, Doug Rapier, and Ron Micetic.

While the Fifth Season drew a field of nine, at least three horses are expected to scratch, including morning-line favorite Pony Express  and Komorebino Omoide , according to Oaklawn publicity.