Central -- The Coolmore Lexington Stakes (Grade II) at Keeneland will offer several 3-year-olds a final chance to earn a starting slot in Kentucky Derby 129. But the recent history of the 1 1/16-mile contest indicates that any Kentucky Derby contenders that emerge from that race must be taken seriously on the first Saturday in May.

Charismatic won the Coolmore Lexington in 1999 and three weeks later scored a 31-1 upset victory in the Kentucky Derby for owners Robert and Beverly Lewis and trainer D. Wayne Lukas. The four-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer almost repeated the feat last year with Proud Citizen, who romped to a three-length win the Coolmore Lexington and finished second to fellow longshot War Emblem at odds of 23-1 in the Kentucky Derby.

Lukas is back in this year's Coolmore Lexington with the Lewises' Scrimshaw, who has not raced since Feb. 15 and has undergone throat surgery since that start. Despite that long layoff, a strong effort in the Coolmore Lexington could earn the son of Gulch and Lukas a bid for this year's renewal of the Kentucky Derby.

"We don't have to have a great race," said Lukas of Scrimshaw. "I want to be right on May 3. If I'm going to be in May 3. I may not even be in the thing; I haven't asked for Derby tickets yet."

Other contenders with a trip to Churchill Downs on the line include Irving and Marjorie Cowan's Minister's Wild Cat, Tom Durant's Most Feared, Gary Garber's Domestic Dispute, and Fog City Stable's Ocean Terrace.

The morning line favorite for the Coolmore Lexington is Einar Robsham's Trust N Luck, the winner of the Fountain of Youth (GI) and runner-up to Kentucky Derby favorite Empire Maker in the Florida Derby (GI). Trainer Ralph Ziadie said several weeks ago that Trust N Luck was no longer being considered as a candidate for the Kentucky Derby, but he could go to the Preakness (GI) off a big effort at Keeneland.

The Coolmore Lexington field also includes Lloyd Madison Farm's Champali, winner of the Iroquois (GIII) and third in the Lane's End (GII), and California-based Eye of the Tiger.

East -- Saturday's Federico Tesio Stakes at Pimlico could produce a starter or two for one of the spring classics -- but not the Kentucky Derby.

Favored Cherokee's Boy, who is coming off a fifth-place finish in the Illinois Derby (GII), is using the 1 1/8-mile race as a prep for the Preakness, which will be run at Pimlico on May 17. The Gary Capuano-trained son of Citidancer is the 3-2 favorite under jockey Ryan Fogelsonger as he faces five rivals.

"He won the Maryland Million at Pimlico and the only question is the distance," said Fogelsonger. "If he runs well here there shouldn't be a reason not to try the Preakness."

Major opposition to Cherokee's Boy should come from Gimmeawink, winner of the Miracle Wood at Laurel Park.

Southeast -- Aventura Stakes runner-up Supah Blitz, who has been on the Kentucky Derby fence for several weeks, is now apparently on his way to Churchill Downs for the race.

Trainer Manny Tortora made the decision following a six furlong workout this week at Calder Race Course. The trainer is also continuing to field offers to purchase the horse before the May 3 Derby.

"We've had a lot of inquiries about selling him," he said. "There have been a lot of agents around the barn looking at him. I'm waiting for the right offer."

Peace Rules has now won four consecutive races, with the last two - the Louisiana Derby (GII) and the Toyota Blue Grass - coming after Frankel switched the colt from grass to dirt. Frankel's only concern about Peace Rules is his ability to get the Derby distance of 1 ¼-miles.

"Peace Rules is a good horse and he's very game," Frankel said. "When horses get to him, they can't get by him so easy. He's tough and he never gives up."

The horse that may have been the biggest threat to Peace Rules in the Toyota Blue Grass never made it to the starting gate. Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Badge of Silver, winner of the Risen Star (GIII), fractured a cannon bone in his right front leg during a Friday gallop and was scratched from the race. The Ronny Werner-trained colt suffered a similar injury at two and underwent surgery on Monday at Lexington's Rood & Riddle Equine Clinic.

While Frankel's odds-on favorites ruled in the Wood Memorial and the Toyota Blue Grass, long shot Sir Cherokee ($113.20) rallied from last under jockey Terry Thompson to stun a crowd of 61,752 and win the $500,000 Arkansas Derby (GII) at Oaklawn Park.

Domino Stud's homebred son of Cherokee Run ran down Eugene's Third Son near the finish line to win by 1 ¾-lengths under jockey Terry Thompson. Christine's Outlaw finished third and Region of Merit was fourth. Favored Man Among Men finished 10th. Sir Cherokee, trained by Mike Tomlinson, covered the 1 1/8-mile distance in 1:48.39 - the fastest clocking in the Arkansas Derby since eventual Breeders' Cup Classic (GI) winner Concern won the race in 1:48 in 1994.

"Sir Cherokee was going so fast, all I could do was hope I wouldn't fall off," said Thompson. "What a runner this guy is!"

The victory completed a memorable weekend for Thompson, who also won Friday's Fantasy (GII) for 3-year-old fillies aboard Ruby's Reception and became the first rider to sweep the two races.

It appears the Sir Cherokee will be the only member of the 12-horse Arkansas Derby field to try the Kentucky Derby. He arrived at Tomlinson's barn at Churchill Downs' Trackside Louisville training center Sunday evening following a van ride from Oaklawn Park.

"I know my horse can get the mile and a quarter," said Tomlinson, who has never saddled a Kentucky Derby starter. "I know he likes the racetrack, so I'm confident he'll give a good account of himself. I'm just tickled to death to be heading to Louisville."

Trainer Patrick Byrne said Eugene's Third Son would be pointed toward the Preakness (GI), but he would hold the Derby as an option for the colt in case "the race falls apart over the next three weeks."

There will be no Kentucky Derby for Man Among Men, who suffered cuts on his right front leg in the Arkansas Derby and was scheduled to fly back to trainer Gary Mandella's barn in California.

"We'll bring him home and see what's best," said Mandella, "but the Kentucky Derby is out."

Man Among Men is the last horse to defeat Kentucky Derby favorite Empire Maker, having beaten him in the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita.

West -- James Vreeland's Mr. Technique ($20) made a successful change in tactics from stalker to stretch-runner ran down the favored Apalachian Thunder to win Saturday's 89th California Derby at Bay Meadows.

Apalachian Thunder opened a three-length lead in upper stretch, but the Jeff Bonde-trained son of Smart Strike past that rival to win by the length. Bonde said Mr. Technique is not a Kentucky Derby candidate.

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