Next Round of Derby Preps

- Here it is, thanks to Lauren Stitch of the Daily Racing Form, all you need to know about the next batch of major Derby preps a week from Saturday, March 5.

- The Santa Catalina at Santa Anita - 1 1/16 mile:

The Santa Catalina should set up nicely for Declan's Moon, with several speed horses in the race: Going Wild, winner of the Sham Stakes; Fusaichi Rock Star, winner of the San Vicente Stakes; and Spanish Chestnut, winner of the San Rafael Stakes. [DRF]

- The Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream - 1 1/8 mile:

Two interesting colts expected for the Fountain of Youth are Bandini and Defer. Bandini has reeled off back-to-back impressive victories, and the son of Fusaichi Pegasus appears to have the most upside of anyone in this year's field....His second dam, Hail Atlantis, won the Santa Anita Oaks, and his fourth dam is Moccasin, undefeated champion 2-year-old filly of 1965, who was also co-Horse of the Year along with Roman Brother.

...Defer, an impeccably bred son of Danzig, should appreciate stretching out in distance. He is out of a full sister to stakes winners Educated Risk and Diamond, and a half-sister to champion Inside Information.[DRF]

Also pointing to the FOY are Galloping Grocer, High Fly, and Closing Argument. Whoever runs had better pray for a good post position.

- The Swale at Gulfstream - 7f: Lost in the Fog, Sun King, and the possible debut of High Limit, an undefeated colt waiting in the wings for none other than Bobby Frankel, who takes over from Anthony Dutrow, who trained High Limit to two wins at Delaware, including one at a mile, by a total of 18 1/2 lengths and Beyers of 98 and 100.

Plus, an expected allowance race on the Gulfstream undercard that could include some promising prospects.

- We haven’t heard much from the Jockey Guild lately; but I don’t imagine they’re busy formulating a response to requests for an explanation of exactly what they’ve been doing with the $2.2 million paid to them annually by the tracks. Now the Guild is pushing their agenda on raising the minimum weight to 116 pounds, which is a compromise from their original proposal of 118.

- I did a double take when I first saw that jockey Jose Amy had resumed riding at Aqueduct. Amy lost his license in 1980 after admitting to holding back horses in the mid-70s. He claimed that he was threatened with “Mafia retribution” by former jockey Con Errico. After 25 years, Amy, who was reinstated last year, finally got back into the winner’s circle on Monday.