Oaklawn Park racing secretary Pat Pope said before the meet opened that the track was committed to raising purses for certain races on its major days and for the Southwest Stakes card on Monday, straight 3-year-old races have received a boost of $10,000 each, bringing maiden allowances for 3-year-olds to a purse of $93,000.
One of those races, the sixth race, a maiden special weight at a mile, has drawn a Bob Baffert-trained shipper in Green Fleet. The race drew 11.
Oaklawn on Wednesday announced maiden special weights had been boosted by $6,000, to $83,000.
For more background, this is from Daily Racing Form's opening day preview for Oaklawn:
There are strategic purse bumps set for four key stakes days – Southwest Day, Rebel Day, Arkansas Derby Day, and Kentucky Derby Day.
“We want the best races for the patrons,” said Pat Pope, Oaklawn’s racing secretary. “Purses on those days will be increased at least $5,000 for any race for 3-year-olds and up – maidens, allowance, claiming – and $10,000 for any straight 3-year-old races, with a strong possibility that they will be higher.”