UPI Horse Racing Weekend Preview

A clutch of Kentucky Derby and Oaks preps, along with the Santa Anita Handicap, take the Thoroughbred racing spotlight this weekend as Dubai awaits World Cup night.

Internationally, some of Australia's Group 1 performers are scheduled to take the track. And, of course, the fields continue to evolve for World Cup night itself.

While Saturday's San Felipe at Santa Anita remains a significant test with Mor Spirit heading the list, it will not feature the West Coast's No. 1 Kentucky Derby candidate, Nyquist, who instead is chasing a $1 million bonus in the Florida Derby later in the season. Saturday's Tampa Bay Derby also should be very instructive.

The "Big Cap" on the same California program features Breeders' Cup Classic runner-up Effinex against a very bettable field.

And there's more than enough action at Santa Anita, Tampa Bay Downs, Laurel Park, Aqueduct, Oaklawn Park and Turfway Park to keep the faithful in the pews.

Let us pray.

The Road to the Roses

Last year's juvenile champ, Nyquist, will be absent from Saturday's $400,000, Grade II San Felipe at Santa Anita, instead targeting a pre-Louisville showdown with Fountain of Youth winner Mohaymen in the April 2 Florida Derby. So, the 1 1/16-miles San Felipe provides an opportunity for some others to shine. Perhaps the Bob Baffert-trained duo of Mor Spirit and Cupid will be among them. Mor Spirit comes off consecutive wins in the Grade I Los Alamitos Futurity last fall and the Grade I Robert B. Lewis at Santa Anita a month ago. Cupid, meanwhile, took three tries to get to the winner's circle, finally having his picture taken Feb. 7 at Santa Anita. But hopes remain high for the Tapit colt, owned by the Coolmore combine. And Baffert already has saddled four San Felipe winners. There's plenty of competition, most of it with question marks. Smokey Image, for example, has been smoking state-bred competition, looking like a good thing while winning six races without a loss. If he can compete here, he will prove himself a legitimate Derby contender. Exaggerator finished second to Nyquist going 7 furlongs in the San Vicente last month and barely lasted to win the $1 million Delta Jackpot in November. Danzing Candy "danzes" into stakes company for the first time. Uncle Lino got home second in the Robert B. Lewis. I Will Score was losing ground at the end of his last start when asked to go two turns.

Brody's Cause has been near the top of many Kentucky Derby lists since he finished a rapidly closing third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Saturday's $350,000, Grade II Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby will give a clue whether he justifies that assessment. The 1 1/16-miles event has a history of producing Kentucky Derby winners. Both Street Sense, who won at Tampa Bay in 2007, and Super Saver, who finished third in the 2010 edition, went on to win the Run for the Roses. Brody's Cause, a Giant's Causeway colt trained by Dale Romans, had two straight wins going into the Breeders' Cup. Saturday's competition also includes the first three finishers from the local Grade III Sam F. Davis -- Destin, Rafting and Morning Fire. Awesome Banner is back on short rest after fading badly in his first try around two turns just two weeks ago in the Grade II Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park. Economic Model was second to Awesome Banner in the Grade II Swale at 7 furlongs. And Riker makes his first appearance since fading from the lead in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, where he wound up sixth in his first try on dirt. Marke Casse has taken over Riker's training.

The horses who got home second, third and fourth in the WEBN Stakes all return for Saturday's $100,000 John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park, stretching out to 1 1/16 miles on all-weather track. That trio -- Blue Wings, Surgical Strike and Oh Oz -- will be joined by Whatawonderflworld, a stakes winner on the all-weather course at Ocala in Florida and a winner against fellow New York-breds on the grass last year. The full field of 13 also includes Swager Jagger, who won the Pulpit Stakes last November at Gulfstream Park West. The Battaglia is the local prep for the $500,000, Grade III Horseshoe Cincinnati Casino Spiral Stakes on April 2.

Saturday's $75,000 Private Terms Stakes at Laurel Park, 1 1/16 miles, is more likely a prep for the Grade I Preakness at Pimlico than for the Derby. Six are set, including Marengo Road, who has been outstanding except for the single time he stepped outside the Maryland-Delaware circuit to finish ninth in the Grade II Remsen at Aqueduct. Let Me Go First finished fifth in the Grade III Jerome at Aqueduct Jan. 2. The others also have good local records so we shall see.

There's no other place to put this but it can't go unnoticed that a 3-year-old named Ditka and owned by Godolphin makes his first start in Saturday's ninth race at Tampa Bay Downs. Is it possible Sheik Mohammed had to ask "Da Coach" for permission to use the name? {b: Kentucky Oaks preps}

Marquee Miss, Nickname and Dorodansa -- the first three finishers from last month's Martha Washington over the course -- all return for Saturday's $200,000, Grade III Honeybee at Oaklawn Park, going 1 1/16 miles. Also in the six-filly field: Cosmic Evolution won the Debutante last June at Churchill Downs and also won her 3-year-old debut last month at Oaklawn with a nice late move. She tries two turns for the first time.

Saturday's $200,000, Grade III Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay is 9 furlongs on the turf and not likely to produce a Kentucky Oaks candidate. But Ava's Kitten, making her first start of the year after two straight wins in 2015, might be laying the groundwork for a nice campaign later in the year. The Chad Brown trainee, another from the Ken and Sarah Ramsey herd, won the Chelsea Flower at Belmont before going on vacation. Enjoy Yourself ran third in the Chelsea Flower and has a winning race over the Tampa turf. Spinamiss and Conquest Bebop were getting going late in the Grade III Sweetest Chant at Gulfstream in January. Baciami Piccola started her career in Italy last spring, made a brief stop in France, has not finished worse than third and makes her first U.S. start for trainer Brian Lynch. Miss Otis regrets she didn't run better in her last outing.

Saturday's $75,000 Caesar's Wish at Laurel Park, 1 mile, a likely prep for the Grade II Black-Eyed Susan on Preakness weekend. Six are entered. Among them, Disco Rose has been in the mix in graded stakes company. Sophia's Song is 2-for-3 and has been turned over to Todd Pletcher. Prognosis might have a good one after finishing second in two local stakes.

Sadly, but understandably, it appears Dubai's sensational filly, Polar River, won't be coming to the Kentucky Oaks. Trainer Doug Watson tells Press Association Sports the undefeated miss will have had five races since December when she completes the Group 2 UAE Derby on World Cup night. Asking her to travel to Kentucky after that, he said, might be a trip too far. Not to mention, she'd have to run against Songbird. Watson did not rule out a later U.S. visit -- say for the Grade I Acorn at Belmont.

Classic

Effinex, second to American Pharoah in last fall's Breeders' Cup Classic, journeys to California for Saturday's $1 million, Grade I Santa Anita Handicap. "The Big Cap" has been undercut more than a little bit by "The Big Cup" -- the $10 million Dubai World Cup. But it's still an important race and a quality field. Effinex, after the Breeders' Cup, went on to win the Grade I Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs, defeating Hoppertunity. That same Hoppertunity, in turn, won the Grade II San Antonio at Santa Anita last month, barely defeating Imperative and Donworth -- arguably the top two local contenders in The Big Cap. Imperative has finished third in three straight races now -- to Dortmund, California Chrome and Hoppertunity -- and lost last time by just a nose. Donworth makes just his sixth lifetime start, has never finished worse than third and appears to be on the upswing. Also here are General a Rod, who last year at this time won the Challenger Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, and Hard Aces, who has fallen on hard times since winning the Grade I Gold Cup over the course and distance last June. It will be interesting to see whether Mario Gutierrez sends Donworth to the lead because there are no confirmed speed merchants in the field.

None of the seven entered for Saturday's $200,000, Grade III Challenger Stakes at Tampa Bay is likely to strike terror into the heart of California Chrome or even Effinex. But the 1 1/16-miles test does have Neck 'n Neck, who makes his first start since finishing second to Commissioner in the Grade II Hawthorne Gold Cup last fall. The 7-year-old was third in this event last year behind General a Rod, who as noted goes in the Big Cap on Saturday, and Old Time Hockey. Worth a look: Todd Pletcher sends the lightly raced Outlash, a 4-year-old Unbridled's Song colt who is 4-for-5 in the exacta.

Sunday's $125,000 Stymie Stakes at Aqueduct is run at 9 furlongs for 4-year-olds and up.

Sprint

A couple of the division's hardest hitters are in the 11-horse lineup for Saturday's $200,000, Grade III Tom Fool Handicap at Aqueduct at 6 furlongs. Salutos Amigos and Dads Caps were 1-2 in this last year and both return, Salutos Amigos after a pair of graded stakes runner-up finishes in California. Last year at this time, Salutos Amigos was in Dubai, where he finished eighth in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen. Also on hand Saturday are Stallwalkin Dude and Mewannarose, among others.

Wild Dude and Kobe's Back look like the likely candidates in Saturday's $300,000, Grade II San Carlos at Santa Anita at 7 furlongs. Those two finished sixth and seventh, respectively in last fall's Breeders' Cup Sprint. The lightly raced Calculator makes just his second start in 14 months but looked good in his comeback a month ago. San Onofre is as honest as you could wish, with nine exacta finishes from 11 starts.

Filly & Mare Turf

Breeders' Cup winner Tepin is back in Saturday's $150,000, Grade II Hillsborough Stakes at Tampa Bay, tackling 9 furlongs on the green course. The 5-year-old Bernstein mare returned to action with a victory in the Grade III Endeavour last month over the same course and looks tough to beat. But there are others. Button Down makes her first start since winning the Grade III Cardinal at Churchill Downs in the fall. Danza Cavallo was a gallant second in two graded stakes in New York to end 2015. Ball Dancing is a proven graded stakes winner. Rainha Da Bateria and Isabella Sings also have claims. Isabella Sings drew the rail, just inside the aptly named Speed Seeker and those two could dictate the shape of the race from the first jumps.

Turf

Turf stayers go 1 1/2 miles in Sunday's $200,000, Grade II San Luis Rey at Santa Anita.

Turf Mile

Trainer Phil D'Amato has decided not to start Obviously in Saturday's $300,000, Grade I Frank E. Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita and, instead, will be represented by Grade II Seabiscuit Handicap winner Midnight Storm. "The horse is just fine," D'Amato said of Obviously, adding he likes to space out the 8-year-old's races. He will have no easy task. Bolo has returned as a 4-year-old looking like a potential monster and defeated Obviously and Om last time out in the Grade II Arcadia. Both of those also are back. Brazilian-bred Bal a Bali gets another try at the 1-mile distance. A wild card is De Treville, who raced successfully in group company in France last season and makes his first U.S. start for trainer John Sherriffs. {i: International}

Dubai preps

Singapore, which pulled the plug on its own international Group 1 races effective this spring, has been invited to stay home on World Cup night. At least three Singapore-based runners -- Kiwi Karma, Spalato and El Padrino -- were expected to move along from last weekend's competition at home to the Dubai Golden Shaheen and several others had hoped for invitations. Instead, no RSVPs are necessary as Dubai authorities bypassed the Kranji-based herd. Singapore sent Rocket Man to win the Golden Shaheen in 2011. The Singapore Turf Club rather abruptly announced last fall it had terminated the Group 1 Singapore Airlines International Cup and the companion Group 1 KrisFlyer Sprint, effective immediately.

Australia

Saturday's card includes the Group 1 Australian Cup at 2,000 meters and the Group 1 Lexus Newmarket Handicap at 1,200 meters, both at Flemington. Chautaqua, one of the world's better sprinters, is in the Newmarket instead of Dubai, running against some of the usual suspects including Delectation and Japonisme. Delectation narrowly got the better of Chautaqua two races back in the Group 1 Darley Classic. The Australian Cup boasts the likes of Preferment, Our Ivanhow, Bow Creek and Suavito. Also Saturday, at Rosehill Gardens in New South Wales, it's the Group 1 Coolmore Classic for fillies and mares at 1,500 meters. That race attracted a baker's dozen, including Lucia Valentina, Politeness and Solicit. There are several other group-quality horses scattered around these programs -- all worthy of note.

News and Notes

California Chrome, Japanese runner Duramente and England's Postponed share the top rung of the Longines World's Best Racehorse rankings, released Thursday. Each is rated 121. There's a two-way tie for second between Frosted and Songbird, which may be a clue why Polar River won't be coming to the Kentucky Oaks.