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With Zenyatta’s impressive win at the Grade 1, $250,000 Santa
Margarita Invitational Handicap and Rachel Alexandra’s upset loss to Zardana in New Orleans, the horse racing
world is buzzing. But its not too early to think about the Kentucky Derby. The Contenders.

By Tom Luicci/The Star-Ledger
Buddy’s Saint,
shown winning the Remsen Stakes in November, is out of the Kentucky Derby picture after a bone chip
was discovered in his right front ankle.A rousing start to the serious Kentucky Derby preps: Lookin At Lucky
overcame serious trouble on the backside to win the Rebel Stakes; Odysseus turned in a memorable performance
to somehow win the Tampa Bay Derby; and Sidney’s Candy proved to be more than a sprinter in stretching-out for
a wire-to-wire victory in the San Felipe.

Super Saver after a bone chip was discovered in his right front ankle. The next big prep is this Saturday’s Florida Derby.

Lookin At Lucky Could Baffert have asked for — and gotten — any more from his star colt’s 3-year-old debut? First-time blinkers,
first-time dirt and roughed up on the backside … and “Lucky” still rallied to win the Grade 2 Rebel by a head.

Rule — Todd Pletcher — John Velazquez — Florida Derby (Sat.) — 20-1
The cushy Derby trail appears as if it will end for the Sam Davis and Delta Jackpot winner in Saturday’s Florida
Derby where Eskendereya, among others, will be waiting. If he handles the Gulfstream test, he’s legit.

Eskendereya — Todd Pletcher — John Velazquez — Florida Derby (Sat.) — 5-1
As much as Pletcher would have preferred to keep his top Derby contenders apart, it looks like he will have to
send this one, the impressive Fountain of Youth winner, against stablemate Rule in Saturday’s Florida Derby.

Awesome Act — Jeremy Noseda — Julien Laparoux — Wood Memorial (4/3) — (f) 3-1
Son of 1998 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Awesome Again was impressive in his dirt debut in winning the
Gotham Stakes — off a four-month layoff, too — but the quality of that field wasn’t close to what awaits him now.

Odysseus — Tom Albertrani — Rajiv Maragh — TBD — (f) 3-1
This son of Malibu Moon handled one of the stronger groups of Kentucky Derby contenders in winning the Tampa
Bay Derby in remarkable fashion on Saturday. The colt appeared to be beaten, only to re-rally. Impressive.

Noble’s Promise — Ken McPeek — Robby Albarado — TBD — 26-1
A solid 3-year-old debut — one in which he came within a head of beating 2-year-old champ Lookin At Lucky
in last Saturday’s Rebel Stakes. He has a history of coming up a bit short, but always hits the board, too.

Sidney’s Candy — John Sadler — Joe Talamo — TBD — 33-1
San Vicente winner went wire to wire in his first try at two turns in winning Saturday’s Grade 2 San Felipe,
holding off Interactif and handing Caracortado his first career loss. Has yet to try real dirt, however.

Interactif — Todd Pletcher — Rafael Bejarano — TBD — (f) 3-1
Turf specialist, who broke his maiden on the dirt at Monmouth Park last summer, showed some promising late foot
to get second in Saturday’s San Felipe after Sidney’s Candy was loose on the lead. This one shows promise
.
Discreetly Mine — Todd Pletcher — Javier Castellano — Louisiana Derby (3/27) — 37-1
Mineshaft colt, the Champagne runner-up at 2, will have to do something special in the Louisiana Derby to merit
serious Kentucky Derby consideration. He has faced — or beaten — much to this point.

Conveyance — Bob Baffert — Matt Garcia — Sunland Derby (3/28) — 28-1
Interesting decision by Baffert to send this unbeaten Indian Charlie colt to the Sunland Derby instead of giving
him a good test in his final Kentucky Derby prep. Maybe he already knows this colt’s distance limitations.

Caracortado — Mike Machowsky — Paul Atkinson — TBD — 19-1
Suffered his first career defeat with a third-place finish in the San Felipe Stakes Saturday, but still can’t be
ignored. There wasn’t much pace for the determined gelding to run into after Sidney’s Candy got loose on the lead.

Schoolyard Dreams — Derek Ryan — Jeremy Rose — TBD — (f) 3-1
Stephen Got Even colt looked like a winner in the Tampa Bay Derby until Odysseus somehow found something in reserve
to rally again for an improbable victory. Rose may have moved his horse just a tad early.