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The Grade 1, $1 million Santa Anita Derby on Saturday took a one-two punch this week when Premier Pegasus, the favorite, and top contender Jaycito were withdrawn.

The five leading contenders for Horse of the Year were all in the Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday at Churchill Downs, the debate over who should be Horse of the Year seems certain to last at least another two months.

Saturday morning at Churchill Downs was all about the rain, the sloppy racetrack, and trainer Todd Pletcher, who made the biggest splash by working five of his Derby contenders, but not the likely Derby favorite Eskendereya.

The filly Devil May Care, considered one of the leading contenders for the Kentucky Oaks on April 30, could be entered instead in the Kentucky Derby on May 1, a scenario her trainer, Todd Pletcher, termed "a possibility" on Tuesday morning.

Sidney's Candy, rebounding from a surprisingly flat try in his comeback race six weeks ago, added his name to the list of top Kentucky Derby contenders with an overpowering, 4 1/4-length victory in the Grade 2, $150,000 San Vicente Stakes.

Lookin at Lucky clinched an Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old male, set himself up to be one of the leading contenders for next year's Kentucky Derby, and gave trainer Bob Baffert his fourth win of the day.

Kentucky Derby contender Square Eddie is out of the Run for the Roses.

The first two finishers in Saturday's Arkansas Derby are both headed to Kentucky, but only the victorious Papa Clem will go to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby on May 2. Runner-up Old Fashioned will go to Lexington for knee surgery.

It was the first start of the year for Pioneerof the Nile, a race he did not need to win, and he did not have the best of trips.

When Pioneerof the Nile won the CashCall Futurity seven weeks ago, he immediately became a leading West Coast contender for the Kentucky Derby, a position enhanced by the spiriting to Dubai of Midshipman, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner.

There are 12 horses entered in the Blue Grass Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland, and while they range in ability from one of the elite contenders for the Kentucky Derby to several starry-eyed dreamers, all is not what it may seem on paper.

Trainer Steve Asmussen stood outside Pyro's stall at his Fair Grounds barn on Wednesday morning, admiring the best of his three prospects for this year's Kentucky Derby. Asmussen probably was a little envious, too.

Crown of Thorns, the winner of the Robert Lewis Stakes earlier this month at Santa Anita and one of the top contenders for the Kentucky Derby, has "a little bit of a stress fracture" in his left front leg and will need several months to recuperate.

Trainers of Breeders' Cup Juvenile contenders are still considering whether or not to run their 2-year-olds once more before Oct. 27.

Arkansas Derby winner Curlin has emerged as the May 5 Kentucky Derby favorite despite not racing as a 2-year-old. No contender has won the Derby without a 2-year-old campaign in 125 years.

Todd Pletcher trainee Ravel, formerly one of the leading contenders on the Kentucky Derby trail, is out with an injury to his left front leg.