The $200,000 Oaklawn Stakes - which last year was run as the Oaklawn Invitational - closes at midnight Thursday, said Pat Pope, racing secretary at Oaklawn. 

The mile and an eighth race for 3-year-olds will be run April 11. It shares a card with the $150,000 Oaklawn Mile for 4-year-olds and up. 

The Oaklawn Invitational had been set for its second running on May 2, but when the Arkansas Derby was recently moved to that date in response to the Kentucky Derby's postponement to September, the Oaklawn Invitational became the Oaklawn Stakes when moved to April 11. 

Pope said due to the date switch, the turnaround time was too quick for an invitational. So, the race has a normal nomination process that closes Thursday. 

The invitational aspect of the race will return for 2021, said Jennifer Hoyt, spokeswoman for Oaklawn. 

The Oaklawn Stakes this year occupies what was the original date for the Arkansas Derby. The Oaklawn Invitational was introduced last year when Oaklawn extended its meet to May. It debuted with a berth to the Preakness Stakes. 

Entries for the Oaklawn Stakes - and Oaklawn Mile - will be taken next Wednesday, April 8.