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The raw talent of Bodemeister was too much for his rivals on Saturday in the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park.

Take Charge Indy took charge from the start and outgamed a stubborn Reveron through the stretch to post a one-length victory in Saturday's $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.

The number of horses eligible to compete in Thoroughbred racing's coveted and elusive Triple Crown in 2012 has climbed to 418 after 20 promising three-year-olds were made eligible to compete during the late nomination period that concluded on Saturday.

Bob Baffert is heading south by Southwest. Fresh off a victory by Secret Circle in the Rebel Stakes on Saturday at Oaklawn Park, Baffert will send Castaway to Sunland Park on Sunday for the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby.

Whether trainer John Servis will have his first Kentucky Derby starter since winning the race in 2004 with Smarty Jones could be determined over the next nine days.

One of the reasons Bob Baffert rose so quickly through the ranks of Thoroughbred trainers, all the way to the Hall of Fame, is that he relies so much on instincts.

Creative Cause and Bodemeister, the one-two finishers in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita, are expected to meet again in the Grade 1, $750,000 Santa Anita Derby, with the trainers of both colts saying that's where they are headed.

Fed Biz, who missed the San Felipe Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita with a hind-end issue, is still not traveling properly and will be pulled off the trail to the May 5 Kentucky Derby, his trainer, Bob Baffert, said Monday.

Flags of the United States as well as California fly atop the grandstand at Santa Anita, but on Saturday, after a shocking upset by 43-1 outsider I'll Have Another in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes, the audible gasp in the stands was "Oh, Canada."

After a dip in early nominations to the Triple Crown last year, the numbers came roaring back this year, with 397 3-year-olds -- led by champion 2-year-old colt Hansen -- announced on Saturday as nominees to the 2012 Triple Crown.

Ultimate Eagle completed a dream weekend for owner B.J. Wright and trainer Mike Pender by leading from start to finish in the Grade 1, $250,000 Hollywood Derby on Sunday, one day after Wright and Pender captured the Citation Handicap with Jeranimo.

Jeff Bloom, 47, is hoping his latest venture is his best yet, and, so far, he's batting 1.000.

Animal Kingdom, this year's Kentucky Derby winner, has been given the green light to resume training and will be pointed toward the Dubai World Cup next spring, his ownership group, Team Valor International, announced on Saturday in a press release.

Now, things are starting to get serious with Uncle Mo.

Shackleford, who won the 136th Preakness Stakes on Saturday, came out of the race well, and his chances of running in the Belmont Stakes on June 11 are "better than 50-50," his trainer, Dale Romans, said Sunday morning here at Pimlico.

As the prospective field for the May 21 Preakness Stakes came into sharper focus on Wednesday, the horse they will all have to beat yet again, Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, returned to the track.