Stonehouse takes photo in Fifth Season

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Stonehouse surged on the outside to win a three-way photo over Spotsgone and Acting Zippy in the $100,000 Fifth Season at Oaklawn Park on Thursday. The 1 1/16-mile stakes continued the Racing Festival of the South, when $2.8 million in stakes are run over the final week of the meet that ends Saturday with the Arkansas Derby.

Stonehouse ($13.40) settled just off the pace set by Spotsgone and Acting Zippy, who traveled together through fractions of 23.18 seconds for the opening quarter-mile, 47.24 for the half-mile, and 1:12.04 for six furlongs. Stonehouse edged the leaders late, winning by a neck and covering the distance on a track rated fast in 1:43.37.

"I was able to get my horse to back off them a little," said Perry Compton, who rode the winner for trainer Spanky Broussard. "He's won a lot of races on the lead. But he really doesn't have to be on the lead. He settled perfectly today."

Stonehouse earned $60,000 for the win in the Fifth Season, which was his second consecutive stakes win behind the $75,000 Gulf Coast Classic at Delta Downs on Feb. 28. Stonehouse races for Richard Rudolph and Michael Vranich.

Golden Yank was scratched from the Fifth Season.