A busy winter weekend looms for Thoroughbred racing, headlined by the opening of Oaklawn Park’s new meet and its traditional early-season feature, the Advent Stakes, which draws a compact but highly promising group of 2-year-olds. Across the handicapping landscape, analysts are sharpening their focus on juvenile form, projected pace scenarios, and ship-in angles as bettors look to gauge which youngsters will graduate from regional stakes to the national spotlight in the coming months.
Advent Stakes Kicks Off Oaklawn’s 2025–26 Meet
Oaklawn Park launches its 2025–26 season with the $150,000 Advent Stakes, a six-furlong dash for 2-year-olds that serves as both an opening-day feature and an early barometer of the local sprint division. With rich purses and a long meet ahead, connections have targeted this race as a springboard toward more lucrative three-year-old opportunities, ensuring a field deep in both early speed and lightly raced upside.
Handicappers are circling several key contenders, led by pace-forward types expected to vie for the early lead and stretch-running juveniles looking to capitalize if the tempo boils over. A colt with tactical speed and a sharp last-out win has drawn particular attention off a strong figure and professional finishing kick, while another rival ships in off a competitive California campaign that hints at class and versatility. With multiple winners lined up and only subtle margins separating their recent efforts, the Advent sets up as a chess match of trip and timing—an early-season test that could unveil Oaklawn’s next breakout sprinter.
