SOUTH - FLORIDA - Entering the weekend, two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Nick Zito's journey on the "Road to the Kentucky Derby" had been uneventful as Eurosilver and Birdstone won their 2004 debuts with ease.

Zito's third Derby contender, Robert La Penta's The Cliff's Edge, made his anticipated 3-year-old premiere against what appeared to be an overmatched field in the $100,000 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs. But after starting in post position number 12 in the 1 1/16-mile race and enduring a wide-trip on both turns, The Cliff's Edge could not catch 34-1 longshot Kaufy Mate down the stretch and was defeated by 1 ¾-lengths.

"I'm disappointed but he didn't run that bad," Zito said. "A better post might have made a difference and he might not have been as fit as he could have been."

The son of Gulch, who had been idle since a sweep of Churchill Downs' fall stakes for 2-year-olds, the Iroquois (GIII) and Kentucky Jockey Club (GII), was a prohibitive 1-2 favorite under jockey Shane Sellers. Zito was noncommittal about the colt's future plans following the unexpected setback, but his original strategy called for trips to Oaklawn Park for the March 20 Rebel Stakes and the $1 million Arkansas Derby (GII) on April 10.

As for Kaufy Mate, who was not an early nominee to the Kentucky Derby and Visa Triple Crown, trainer Kirk Ziadie said the son of Diligence would compete next in March 14 Tampa Bay Derby (GIII).

Gulfstream Park - Although not typically considered a major Kentucky Derby prep race, Saturday's $100,000 Palm Beach Stakes (GIII) at 1 1/8 miles on turf included one horse that many were watching.

Shadwell Stables' Mustanfar, who had won 2 of 4 starts on dirt, made his grass debut in the Palm Beach after trainer Kiaran McLaughlin decided to avoid several talented groups of sophomores in races on Fountain of Youth (GII) day a week earlier. Sent off at odds 7-1 under jockey Jose Santos, the son of 1990 Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled managed a late rally to finish sixth, beaten just over three lengths by the victorious Kitten's Joy.

Owned by Ken & Sarah Ramsey, Kitten's Joy was a heavy 3-5 favorite and won the Palm Beach by 1 ¾-lengths over the Ken McPeek-trained longshot Prince Arch, who closed at 37-1 odds. Kitten's Joy is now unbeaten in four races on grass and, although the colt is nominated to the Visa Triple Crown, Romans indicated after the win that the son of El Prado's future would remain on the turf. Romans mentioned Churchill Downs' Derby Week Crown Royal American Turf (GII) as a possible target.

On Sunday, two heralded sophomores, Purge and Grand Score, 2004 debuts on Sunday in a Gulfstream allowance race and one of colts lived up to his advance billing.

Purge, the 3-5 favorite, improved trainer Todd Pletcher 31 percent winning clip at Gulfstream by taking Sunday's third race by three lengths over All Hail Stormy. The son of Pulpit, who had been idle since winning his debut by four lengths last August at Saratoga, covered the six furlongs in a quick 1:09.54 under John Velazquez.

Grand Score, unraced by Kentucky Derby-winning trainer John Ward, Jr. since a third place finish in Churchill Downs' Iroquois, finished a distant third under Pat Day, beaten 13 ½-lengths by the winner.

Pletcher unleashed another talented 3-year-old on Saturday as Eugene & Laura Melnyk's Maxwell Terrace, a son of Mazel Trick and a Visa Triple Crown nominee, won his career debut by a half-length.

Pletcher said that colt, along with recent debut winner Forest Danger, would avoid stakes company in their next starts. He said his four major Derby contenders -- Chapel Royal, Limehouse, Shaniko and Value Plus -- remain on target for their upcoming starts, but Pletcher was cautious to look beyond March.

"They are all healthy and training well at the moment," he said. "It's to far out to see where they might run after (March), but we are just focused on next month."

EAST - NEW YORK - Winter racing at Aqueduct had yet to reveal a horse that appeared to be a major Kentucky Derby contender in 2004, but one may have emerged from Saturday's $75,000 Best Turn at Aqueduct.

Paraneck Stables' Redskin Warrior scored his third straight victory as he drew off in the stretch to defeat Scary Bob by five lengths in the six furlong race. Despite his glowing record, the son of Indian Charlie was only the 2-1 second choice in the betting behind the Allen Jerkens-trained Smokume, who finished a non-threatening fourth. Redskin Warrior covered the distance over a "fast" track in a relatively quick 1:09.82 under jockey Richard Migliore.

Trained by Jennifer Pedersen, Redskin Warrior will likely be stretched out in distance in his next race and that start could come in the March 20 Lane's End (GII) at Turfway Park. Pedersen won that race last year with Paraneck's New York Hero.

"He went into the race great but you never want to say, 'Oh, he's just going to gallop,' because something always comes up," said Pedersen. "Now, we can move him on. I would like to try two turns - that's obviously the big thing - but I'm not sure where. The Lane's End might be a possibility."

WEST - CALIFORNIA - Three-time Kentucky Derby winning trainer Bob Baffert, who had been relatively quiet on the "Road to the Kentucky Derby," made some noise on Sunday at Santa Anita.

James McIngvale's Odds On, who was last seen pulling up in October's Norfolk (GII) at the Arcadia track, made short work of a four-horse field as he returned with an easy three length allowance win under Alex Solis. The son of 1997 Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm covered 6 ½ furlongs in a very quick 1:15.39. The colt, considered by many to be one of Baffert's most talented 3-year-olds, led nearly from start to finish and blazed the way early with split times of: 21.80 (quarter-mile) and: 44.06 (half-mile).

Capitano finished second and the Baffert-trained Bornwithit checked in third.

The weekend did not start off in such promising fashion for Baffert, who saddled a pair of promising colts in a 1 1/16-mile allowance race in hopes of getting their Kentucky Derby dreams on track. But Robert & Beverly Lewis' Courageous Act and Michael Pegram's Coldntight finished third and last, respectively, in a five-horse field. But the winner, Cheiron, may have stepped onto the Derby Trail for trainer Kristin Mulhall, who already had San Vicente (GII) winner Imperalism in her barn. The son of Maria's Mon, who sired 2001 Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos, is 2-1-0 in three starts this year including a second place in the Sunshine Millions Dash.

JOCKEY NEWS - As the major March Kentucky Derby prep races draw near, the usual maneuvering for the nation's top jockeys are underway.

On Friday, two-time Kentucky Derby winning jockey Kent Desormeaux landed the mount on Delta Jackpot winner and Risen Star (GIII) runner-up Mr. Jester. Trainer Steve Wren named Desormeaux to replace Roman Chapa, who had ridden the son of Silver Deputy in five of his seven career starts.

Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel, who is still looking for his first Derby win, named Edgar Prado to ride Sham Stakes winner Master David, who will run next in the Florida Derby (GI) on March 13. Prado will replace Alex Solis, who elected to stay in California to ride unbeaten Kentucky Oaks (GI) contender A.P. Adventure that day in the Santa Anita Oaks (GI). Prado will be the seventh different rider in as many starts for Master David.

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