Giant Oak (9-2) is late running trouble-prone sort, and he is due for clear sailing and racing luck. The Chris Block runner needs pace help, and the speedy Perfect Song (6-1) figures to ensure honest splits.

Nowhere To Hide (5-1) will start from the rail for Nick Zito, and he was most recently seen finishing 4th in the Tampa Bay Derby.

The ever-present Todd Pletcher has Al Khali (6-1), Lord Justice (8-1), and Il Postino (20-1).

Toccet Rocket (20-1), His Greatness (20-1), Free Country (6-1), and Knight Shot (30-1) round out the field.

The $500k Illinois Derby is the 7th race on an 11-race program.

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The Elusive Quality colt was always traveling well tracking the pace under Johnny V , and when Dunkirk made a bold move turning for home, Quality Road found another gear and pulled clear for a 1-3/4 length tally.

The James Jerkens trainee joins I Want Revenge and Friesan Fire as versatile graded Derby prep route winners, and this crop is much faster and deeper than the ‘08 crew.

Early/pressing speed is frequently dangerous at the Gulf, especially at nine furlongs, and the track was lightning fast (1:47.72 track record ), but take nothing away from the winner. He looks every bit the part of a serious contender on the first Saturday in May.

Dunkirk (clearly 2nd best) was hardly disgraced under Garrett Gomez and picked up a desperately needed $150k in graded earnings, but he’s still on the bubble for the big dance.

Todd Pletcher’s $3.7 million purchase was only making his 3rd career start and faced a quality foe with a pace advantage. Maybe the best thing for the late bloomer is missing the Derby. He is clearly talented but is still light on seasoning.

Theregoesjojo kept Quality Road in his sights from the outset but could not match strides with the top two in the lane. He ended up 3rd, and a futile objection by Kent D was dismissed rather quickly. The Ken McPeek charge is best when able to sit back and make a late run, and he should revert to those tactics in the Derby.

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Casino Drive appears poised for glory in this spot. I fancied the Japanese colt when he came to the US last year, and he has come into his own in ‘09 after an ambitious 3yo campaign. He owns fine positional speed and should enjoy this distance.

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Albertus Maximus was my top in BC Dirt Mile and Donn, and he is thriving for Kiaran McLaughlin. He gets a distance test today.

Asiatic Boy was a distant 2nd behind Curlin in this event last year, and he exits a sharp win in the local prep for this.

Well Armed owns dangerous speed and was 3rd, a neck behind Asiatic Boy in the ‘08 running.

My Indy is Godolphin’s hope. He has won his last two here but has never raced this far and could get hung out to dry tracking the pace.

Arson Squad is a late runner with the ability to land a share.

Anak Nakal does not have the speed to threaten these, but he can plug along for a minor award.

Happy Boy landed the place behind Asiatic Boy and My Indy in last pair here. He has the tactical speed  to make an impact.

Muhannak won the BC Marathon last year, but he has disappointed in two starts since.

Snaafy is 3-3 here but seems best up to a mile.

Gloria de Campeao was 8th in this event last year.

Joe Louis and Muller seem best at twelve furlongs, and Paris Perfect is seemingly better on turf.

Top 3 selections: (1) Casino Drive , (2) Albertus Maximus, (3) Asiatic Boy

Longshot to watch: Happy Boy

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The $2.1 million son of Street Cry will break from post 5 in Saturday’s UAE Derby (UAE-G2) from Nad Al Sheba Racecourse in Dubai.

He began his career with a Polytrack victory at Arlington last June, and he nabbed Saratoga’s Sanford (G3) in his 2nd career start.

After a failed try in the Hopeful (G1), he was shelved and shipped to Dubai, and he has won twice at Nad Al Sheba since, including a good looking 2000 Guineas (UAE-G3) tally when last seen on Feb 12th.

If all goes according to plan on Saturday, he will return to the states as a legitimate Derby threat.

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The Todd Pletcher runner has been visually impressive in a pair of wins to kick off his career at the Gulf, and it’s make or break time as he desperately needs graded earnings. Anything less than an exacta finish and his Derby dreams are virtually over.

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Pletcher is worried about the lack of pace on Saturday, and he has entered maiden Europe to spice up the early fractions. The rabbit broke slow in his local sprint bow, and the other entrants should let the overmatched colt do his thing before pouncing at their leisure.

Fountain of Youth winner Quality Road owns fine early/pressing speed and should not be bothered by the aforementioned rabbit. He projects a stalking trip as he tries two turns for the first time.

The remainder of the field includes Youth runner-up Theregoesjojo , Toby The Coal Man, Casey’s On Call, Sincero, Danger To Society, and Stately Character.

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In order to make it to the Derby starting gate, a top two finish on Saturday is mandatory.

Fountain of Youth hero Quality Road is the one to catch, and to that end, Pletcher may enter a rabbit (Europe) to ensure an honest pace for his undefeated $3.7 million purchase.

Entries for the Florida Derby will be taken on March 25th. Stay tuned!

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He will need more graded earnings for a spot in the Derby starting gate, and Lukas is reportedly looking at the Arkansas Derby , Blue Grass, or Lexington Stakes as his next engagement.

The improving sort has plenty of seasoning with nine races under his belt, and he may be hitting his best stride at the right time. He owns a strong pedigree and is a longshot worth following.

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The James Jerkens trainee will try two turns in the nine furlong Derby prep, and his early/pressing speed should serve him well on Saturday.

Possible Florida Derby fav Dunkirk also worked on the 21st, and his company drill with stablemate Affirmatif netted him a 1:00.15 five furlong bullet. The promising Pletcher runner needs graded earnings in his final Derby prep, and the $750k purse is a nice chunk of dough.

On March 22nd, Youth runner-up Theregoesjojo worked six furlongs in the slop (dogs up) in 1:15 and change for Ken McPeek.

Beethoven , Sincero, and Stately Character are also expected at the Gulf on Saturday.

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He showed quality last year with a pair of Polytrack wins to kick off his career, and he was shelved after a 14-length defeat in the Remsen Stakes last November. Bill Mott is excellent with layoff runners, and he had the son of Giant’s Causeway in prime condition on Saturday.

Last year’s winning Ky Derby rider Kent Desormeaux is now 2-2 with this one, and he is likely to show up in the Blue Grass Stakes (April 11th) at Keeneland next.

The WinStar Farm colt completed his nine furlong late running synthetic journey in 1:49.63, and his conventional dirt prowess will likely remain a mystery until the first Saturday in May.

D Wayne Lucas trainee Flying Private was clearly 2nd best, and the $700k Keeneland sales grad is improving. He received a much needed $94,000 in graded earnings.

Local hope Proceed Bee held the show, and was followed by Parade Clown, Jack Spratt, West Side Bernie, Bruce N Autumn, A. P. Cardinal, Loch Dubh, Bittel Road, Orthodox, and Dynamite Bob.

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West Side Bernie (Bernstein) won the Ky Cup Juvenile here. He was last seen finishing an even 3rd from disadvantageous outer post in graded flat mile affair at the Gulf. He handles any footing and packs a decent late kick, and he should give a good account of himself under new rider Edgar Prado.

Jack Spratt (Candy Ride) failed to handle regular dirt in Fountain of Youth last time. He ran well in lone local outing and can rebound at a price. Leparoux rides him well, and Michael Maker is 30% dirt/synthetic.

Bittel Road has finished 4th in last two synthetic outings, and he faced such salty foes as Pioneerof The Nile, I Want Revenge, Papa Clem, and Chocolate Candy. All three wins occurred on turf, but the Pletcher trainee is a class fit at underlaid odds.

Hold Me Back (Giant’s Causeway) won a pair of synthetic races to kick off his career, and he was last seen finishing 5th behind runaway winner Old Fashioned in Aqueduct’s Remsen (Nov ‘08). Mott is 22% with this type of returnee, and he reunites with winning pilot Kent Desormeaux. He is training forwardly and I would not be shocked if he ran well, but he probably needs the outing.

Flying Private (Fusaichi Pegasus) rallied to miss by a head in fine sprint stakes try at Oaklawn for Lukas last time. $700k Keeneland sales grad is on the improve and could grab a piece of this if able to handle footing.

Parade Clown (Bernstein ) has been part of exacta in all 4 local outings, but he’ll have to kick it up a few notches to be competitive today.

Bruce N Autumn has failed to threaten in three starts versus winners, and I do not expect that to change in this graded affair. Dale Romans 1-22 dirt/synthetic, and Lebron is 4-7 with this barn. I like his pedigree (Lemon Drop Kid -Stop The Music), and he can pass horses, so a minor award is not impossible.

Proceed Bee added blinkers and won the local prep for this, but he’ll have to run much faster to threaten these.

Loch Dubh won a sprint stakes race here in early January, but he has failed to stay in a trio of route starts. Look for him to return to sprinting after today.

A. P. Cardinal (A. P. Indy) failed to handle Tampa Bay footing last time, and he gives synthetic a whirl today. Kiaran McLaughlin runner was a quality 2nd in 3yo bow and looms a pace player at the very least in 3rd race off the shelf.

Orthodox owns a pair of turf wire jobs and looms a pace factor at the very least, but he figures to tire after a mile or so.

Dynamite Bob owns low speed ratings and remains eligible for an entry level spot.

Top 3 selections: (1) West Side Bernie , (2) Jack Spratt, (3) Bittel Road

Longshot to Watch: Hold Me Back

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