CENTRAL /ROCKPORT HARBOR, AFLEET ALEX WORK AT OAKLAWN - Two of the major contenders for the 131st Kentucky Derby - Rockport Harbor and Afleet Alex - turned in major workouts on Friday at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.

The moves for both horses were vitally important for their preparation for their respective season debuts in the Rebel Stakes (GIII) at Oaklawn. The morning also left local observers reaching for superlatives as they wondered if two horses of the stature of Rockport Harbor and Afleet Alex had ever breezed on the same morning at the Arkansas track.

The John Servis-trained Rockport Harbor shrugged off a worrisome foot bruise suffered early in the week and breezed a strong seven furlongs in 1:27.40 over a "good" track. Jockey Willie Martinez, who worked eventual Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones for Servis last winter at Oaklawn Park, was in the saddle aboard the unbeaten son of Unbridled's Song. The move by the Fox Hill Farm star was easily the best of just two at the distance.

Cash Is King Stable's Afleet Alex, runner-up in the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (GI), breezed six furlongs for trainer Tim Ritchey in 1:13.60. The move under jockey Jeremy Rose was easily the fastest of seven at the distance.

EAST/SUN KING SET FOR '05 DEBUT ON SATURDAY - Tracy Farmer's Sun King, a son of 1999 Kentucky Derby winner Charismatic who was last seen in a third-place finish to Wilko in the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (GI), is set to make his 2005 debut on Saturday in a one-mile allowance race at Gulfstream Park.

"He's really doing well," trainer Nick Zito told the Blood-Horse. "I just hope he gets a good race first time out and go from there."

Sun King will break from post seven in a field of 10 3-year-olds and will be ridden by Edgar Prado.

It bids to be a busy weekend in Florida for Zito, who also has a pair of his promising 3-year-olds entered in the $100,000 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs - the race that launched the 2004 Derby campaign for Zito and owner Robert V. LaPenta's The Cliff's Edge. Zito has entered La Penta's Andromeda's Hero and G.P's Black Knight, who is co-owned by La Penta and golf great Gary Player. Both horses are listed at 3-1 in the morning line.

Michael Tabor's Killenaule is the 2-1 favorite for trainer Todd Pletcher in the prep for the $250,000 Tampa Bay Derby (GIII) on March 19. Chris DeCarlo will ride.

Meanwhile, Zito told the Blood-Horse that Electric Light, fourth to Scipion in the Risen Star at the Fair Grounds, was injured in that race and will be on the sidelines for two months.

WEST/RAIN DELAYS WILKO'S '05 DEBUT - California's endless rain has interrupted the training of Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (GI) winner Wilko and trainer Craig Dollase said the colt's 2005 debut has been shoved back by two weeks.

The son of Awesome Again is now scheduled to race in the $250,000 San Felipe (GII) on March 19 after Dollase scrapped a planned run in the $200,000 Santa Catalina (GII) on March 5. Wilko finished third to 2004 juvenile champion Declan's Moon in his most recent start in the Hollywood Futurity (GI).

Meanwhile, trainer Ron Ellis said he hopes to work Declan's Moon on Saturday. The unbeaten gelding is scheduled to run in the Santa Catalina.

San Miguel (GIII) runner-up So Long Birdie, a half-brother to 2004 Belmont Stakes (GI) winner Birdstone and 2003 Kentucky Oaks (GI) winner Bird Town, is off the Derby trail after he suffered a condylar fracture of his left ankle in a Feb. 20 allowance win at Bay Meadows. California invaders Thor's Echo and Southern Africa are among the major contenders in a field of 12 3-year-olds entered in Sunday's $100,000 Borderland Derby at New Mexico's Sunland Park. The 1 1/16-mile race also includes the Colorado-bred Cajun Pepper.

DERBY NEWS - Dorothy Turner Scharbauer, who co-owned 1987 Kentucky Derby and Preakness (GI) winner and 1988 "Horse of the Year" Alysheba, died Wednesday in Midland, Tex. following a bout with pancreatic cancer. She was 73. A memorial service for Scharbauer is scheduled Saturday at the First Presbyterian Church in Midland.

REGISTRATION CONTINUES FOR '05 "ROAD TO THE ROSES - The journey to Churchill Downs on the road to the Kentucky Derby remains in its early stages and plenty of time remains to register for the "Road to the Roses 2005" Online game.

Top prizes in this year's game include a VIP trip to the Kentucky Derby and you could win one of three berths in the Daily Racing Form/National Thoroughbred Racing Association Handicapping Championship next January in Las Vegas, Nev. Information and registration is available at www.roadtotheroses.com.

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