The Road to Louisville and the Kentucky Derby (Grade I) goes into overdrive this weekend as the Derby hopefuls begin their final round of major preps for the "Run for the Roses."

EUROSILVER OUT OF DERBY 130 - One of trainer Nick Zito's trio of major Kentucky Derby contenders will miss the first Saturday in May. Buckram Oak Farm's Eurosilver, who came down with a fever as a result of a glandular infection, has been pulled from consideration by Zito and Buckram Oak owner Mahmoud Fustok.

Zito said that the son of Unbridled's Song is doing well now, but had missed nearly two weeks of training. He indicated there is no timetable for his return to the races but said he could return to serious training soon.

The colt, who captured last year's Lane's End Breeders' Futurity (GII) at Keeneland, was originally slated to run in the Toyota Blue Grass (GI) before he was stricken with his gland ailment and fever.

WEST - CALIFORNIA - Despite the defections of 2-year-old champ Action This Day and Hollywood Futurity (GI) winner Lion Heart from its list of contenders, Saturday's $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (GI) still ended up with a talent-laden seven-horse field. The race will be televised by ESPN.

Leading the charge in the Arcadia, Cal. track's marquee 3-year-old race is James McIngvale's Wimbledon. Trained by three-time Kentucky Derby winner Bob Baffert, the gray son of Wild Rush has won two straight races, including a stylish 2-1/4 length victory in the Louisiana Derby (GII) last time out. The 5-2 morning line favorite in the 1 1/8 mile test will be ridden by Puerto Rican native Javier Santiago.

"In the Louisiana Derby he really came out of his shell," said Baffert, who is looking a record fifth Santa Anita Derby victory. "He really ran the race we thought he could run. We were trying to figure out his style. Before he broke his maiden we kept messing with him, putting blinkers on him, taking them off, putting him on the lead, taking him back. He's a very big horse, and the older he's getting the stronger he's getting."

Baffert always thought highly of the colt but he was winless in his first four starts. But he lost to some talented horses in those setbacks, including Santa Anita Derby opponent Quintons Gold Rush. "I think he was mentally just immature, he was a little bit timid, but he's learning," Baffert said. "He's just like a big kid. When Gary Stevens rode him and he got beat by Quintons Gold Rush, who I think is going to be very tough in this race, Gary came back and said 'I think I made a man out of him, I think that's really going to help.' He was right about that."

One of Wimbledon's chief rivals will be the unbeaten Rock Hard Ten. The nearly black colt has won both of his starts, but both races came this year and the Santa Anita Derby will mark his stakes debut. The son of Kris S., who is trained by Jason Orman, will not have the services of regular rider Gary Stevens, who will miss the race because of a riding commitment in France. The mount on the 3-1 second choice has gone to David Flores, who became available when trainer Richard Mandella elected to skip the Santa Anita Derby with 2-year-old champion Action This Day in favor of a run in the Toyota Blue Grass (GI) at Keeneland on April 10.

Imperialism and St Averil, each listed at 7-2 in the morning line, loom as major contenders. The former, trained by 21-year-old Kristin Mulhall, has been the "rags-to-riches" story of 2004. The former claimer, who was purchased privately by owner Steve Taub in January, has won two straight key California prep races, the San Vicente (GII) and San Rafael (GII), since moving to California from Florida. The gray son of Langfuhr, the most experienced member of the field with 14 outings, will break from the rail under jockey Victor Espinoza.

St Averil has never been worse than second in four career starts and was narrowly beaten by the Baffert-trained Preachinatthebar in the San Felipe (GII). He will start on the outside with Tyler Baze up.

Other in the race include Lucky Pulpit (post 2, 12-1), Castledale (post 4, 20-1) and Quintons Gold Rush (5-1). Post time for the Santa Anita Derby is 6:44 p.m. (all times Eastern).

MIDWEST - ILLINOIS - Two years ago, the previously unknown War Emblem launched a surprising rise to stardom with a front-running win in the $500,000 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne. The son of Our Emblem went on to capture the Kentucky Derby and Preakness (GI) for trainer Bob Baffert and eleven 3-year-olds in a well-matched field will look to take a similar in Saturday's 2004 renewal.

The Todd Pletcher-trained Pollard's Vision is a lukewarm 4-1 favorite in a race in which seven horses are listed at morning line odds of 10-1 or lower. The one-eyed son of Carson City ran a solid third to Wimbledon in the Louisiana Derby in his last start and has won been worse than third only twice in his nine races. Pollard's vision, whose name refers to the vision problem suffered by Seabiscuit jockey Red Pollard, will be ridden by Florida-based Eibar Coa.

Heading the list of challengers is unbeaten Paraneck Racing's Song of the Sword. Trained by Jennifer Pedersen, the colt is undefeated in three starts and his last victory was over eventual Lane's End (GII) winner Sinister G. The late Visa Triple Crown nominee will have Richard Migliore in the saddle.

A trio of California horses shipped in for the 1 1/8 test led by Merv Griffin's Skipaslew. The chestnut son of Skip Away captured the Golden Gate Derby (GIII) and Gold Rush Stakes before he finished a disappointing seventh in the El Camino Real Derby (GIII). Kilgowan, who beat Skipaslew in that race, has won three of five career starts and the Lonnie Arterburn trainee will carry highweight of 124 pounds.

Michael Gill's White Mountain Boy will be looking to win his first race on the road. The Maryland-bred colt won his first four starts, all at Laurel Park, but suffered was beaten by Silver Minister in the John Battaglia Memorial at Kentucky's Turfway Park in his first race outside the borders of his home state.

Post time for the Illinois Derby is 5:22 p.m. and the race will also be televised on ESPN.

KENTUCKY - Overbrook Farm's Quick Action and Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor's Tales of Glory head a field of seven 3-year-olds in Sunday's $100,000 Lafayette (GIII) at Keeneland. The D. Wayne Lukas-trained Quick Action won the Fred Caposella at Aqueduct and Tales of Glory was the runner-up in the Rushaway at Turfway Park.

EAST - FLORIDA - Trainer Todd Pletcher nominated a record 35 horses to the Derby and Visa Triple Crown this year, but Forest Grove -- his early choice for Saturday's $250,000 Aventura Stakes at Gulfstream Park -- is not among them.

Aaron & Marie Jones' son of Forestry has won two straight after he opened his career with a pair of losses and has been installed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite.

Oxbow Racing LLC's Humorously looks like the major threat among the race's Visa Triple Crown nominees. The William White trainee, an 8 1/2-length winner in the restricted OBS Championship, will be ridden by Joe Bravo. Others to watch in the 1 1/16-mile race are Zakocity and Kaufy Mate, the 4-5 finishers in the Tampa Bay Derby (GIII), and the Eddie Plesa-trained Baronage, who won the OBS Sprint on March 15. Post time for the Aventura is 5:44 p.m.

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