West -- B. Wayne Hughes' Atswhatimtalknbout, a highly-regarded son of 1992 "Horse of the Year" winner A.P. Indy, rallied in the stretch to defeat a strong field of three-year-olds in a 1 1/16-mile allowance race on Thursday at Santa Anita.

The Ron Ellis-trained colt, the 4-5 favorite, rallied from just off the pace under jockey David Flores to wear down James McIngvale's During for a three-quarter length victory. Buckland Manor was third, 2 1/2-lengths behind the top pair, and second choice Nation Wide News finished fourth. Atswhatimtalknbout, a $900,000 purchase early in his 2-year-old season, covered the distance in 1:41.89 over a "fast" track.

Atswhatimtalknbout was the talk of California following a dramatic victory in his six-furlong debut on Jan. 4 at Santa Anita, but finished third behind Apalachian Thunder and Nation Wide News when he faced winners for the first time in a 1 1/16-mile allowance race. Ellis said Thursday's allowance win was a prep for the $250,000 San Felipe (GII) at Santa Anita on March 16 and a big effort by the colt in that race could earn him a shot at the $750,000-added Santa Anita Derby (GI) on April 5.

"It's another step," Ellis told the Daily Racing Form. "You always plan for a horse to get a little better each time he runs, and after three races we're doing that."

The colt was listed as a 50-1 risk in the morning line odds for last week's Pool 1 of the 2003 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, but closed at odds of 28-1.

Southeast -- Owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey have already enjoyed a spectacular week following Sunday's dazzling 10-length romp by their Badge of Silver in the Risen Star (GIII) at the Fair Grounds, but the Ramseys will be looking to close the week with a flourish Friday afternoon when Nothing To Lose carries their red-and-white colors in the $100,000 Palm Beach (GIII) on the turf at Gulfstream Park.

The D. Wayne Lukas-trained son of grass champion Sky Classic is unbeaten in three starts on the turf and won the Tropical Park Derby (GIII) in his most recent outing on New Year's Day. He defeated Palm Beach rival Millennium Storm and Supah Blitz, the runner-up in last week's Fountain of Youth (GI), in that race.

This will be the last race on the grass for Nothing To Lose before he heads onto the Kentucky Derby trail. Lukas told the Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader that the colt will get a chance to prove himself on the dirt in the Lane's End Stakes (GII) at Turfway Park on March 22.

Jerry Bailey will ride Nothing To Lose, who will carry highweight of 122 pound in the Palm Beach.

The Palm Beach field also includes the 1-2-3 finishers in Gulfstream's $75,000 Dave Feldman Stakes on Jan. 26: Hypnotist, White Cat and Private Gold.

Saturday's $50,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs will serve as an important test for Colita, a New York invader and recent acquisition by Team Valor.

The son of 1996 Kentucky Derby winner Grindstone makes his Florida debut after scoring a pair of impressive victories in the winter chill of Aqueduct. Fifty percent of the colt was purchased by Team Valor last month just before the second of those victories -- an impressive romp in a mile and 70 yard allowance race. Colita continues to be trained by Carlos Morales, who is part-owner of the colt.

Jockey J.J. Castellano will ride Colita, who drew the outside post in a field of 11 and is one of only three horses in the race that are nominees to the Kentucky Derby and Visa Triple Crown. Other major contenders include Coach Jimi Lee, winner of the Hoosier Juvenile at Hoosier Park and fourth in the Spectacular Bid (GIII) at Gulfstream Park; Risky Cat, the Ken McPeek-trained winner of the Kimberlite Pipe Stakes on turf at Kentucky Downs; and Patriotic Flame, a distant runner-up to Fountain of Youth winner Trust N Luck in the What A Pleasure (GIII) at Calder Race Course.

East -- Daniel Borislow's Toccet, winner of the Champagne (GI) and Hollywood Futurity (GI) in a stellar 3-year-old season, appears ready to take a major step this weekend in his return to the Kentucky Derby trail.

The son of Awesome Again has been on the sidelines with sore ankles, but trainer John Scanlan said Toccet could work at his home base at Maryland's Laurel Park by the end of the weekend.

"Things are going well," said Scanlan. Toccet has a record of 6-0-1 in eight races and has earned $755,610.

Mark Doneson and Michael Dubb's Alysweep, winner of the Fred Capossela Stakes at Aqueduct in his most recent outing, will attempt to continue his "rags to riches" story as he heads a field of eight in Saturday's $75,000 Best Turn Stakes at the New York track.

The Patrick Reynolds-trained son of End Sweep has made all five of his career starts at Aqueduct and has won his last three. The first of those wins came in a December outing in which he was claimed for $75,000 from Silverleaf Farm and trainer John Kimmel. Richard Migliore will ride Alysweep.

Other contenders include Overbrook Farm's Desert Warrior, who was 11th for trainer D. Wayne Lukas in the Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) at Churchill Downs and second in the Gilded Time at Arlington Park; Daniel Borislow's Maryland-based Mustbeinthefrontrow, a winner of two-of-three races for trainer John Scanlan; three-time stakes winner Super Fuse; and unbeaten Formal Escape, winner of the Collegian at Suffolk Downs.

Central -- Stonerside Farm's Seattle Hoofer, who suffered the first defeat of his career when he finished ninth to Badge of Silver in the Risen Star (GIII) at the Fair Grounds, has been taken off the Kentucky Derby trail by trainer Michael Stidham.

Seattle Hoofer, a son of 1977 Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, has been plagued by knee problems and Stidham and Stonerside decided it was time for a break at Stonerside's Kentucky farm.

"Hopefully we can bring him back later in the year," said Stidham.

Seattle Hoofer earned $38,400 in winning his first two races before the setback in the Risen Star.

Dubai -- Godolphin's goal of winning the Kentucky Derby seemed very distant last week when its primary hopes for the "Run for the Roses" were defeated in the UAE 2000 Guineas, but the Dubai-based powerhouse could have a late-blooming contender in Parhelion.

The German-bred romped to a 6 1/4-length victory in a one-mile maiden race Thursday at Nad Al Sheba in defeating Godolphin-owned stablemates Mutamared, Sylvanite and Alajwad. The latter is a son of Storm Cat, a $5.5 million yearling purchase at the 2001 Keeneland September Sale, who was making is career debut.

Parhelion, a son of Southern Halo trained by Saeed bin Suroor, raced in California last year for trainer Eoin Harty. He finished third to San Vicente (GII) winner Kafwain in his Hollywood Park debut before he ended his season following a ninth-place finish to eventual 2-year-old champion Vindication in a maiden race at Del Mar.

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