CENTRAL/SHOWDOWN TIME FOR OAKLAWN'S BIG THREE IN REBEL - Oaklawn Park has been buzzing for weeks with talk about the "Big Three" Kentucky Derby (Grade I) contenders on the grounds and showdown time has finally arrived.

Cash Is King Stable's Afleet Alex, Fox Hill Farm's unbeaten Rockport Harbor, and Lewis Lakin's Greater Good are scheduled to step into the starting gate to face each other for the first time in Saturday's $250,000-added Rebel Stakes (GIII) at the Hot Springs, Ark. track.

The 1 1/16-mile race will serve as the 2005 debut for the John Servis-trained Rockport Harbor, winner of the Remsen (GII) at Aqueduct in November. Afleet Alex opened his Kentucky Derby campaign with a sharp victory in the six-furlong Mountain Valley, while Greater Good turned in an impressive stretch-running victory in the Southwest Stakes in his first race of 2005.

A crowd as large as 40,000 is expected to watch the meeting of the "Big Three," which also attracted three other horses: Copy My Notes, Jazzy Gallop and Batson Challenge.

Much attention will be focused on Rockport Harbor, whose status for the Rebel had been a question through much of the week because of the recurrence of a foot injury suffered in his Remsen victory. Servis, who saddled eventual Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones to win the Rebel in 2004, decided to enter the son of Unbridled's Song although he believes the colt is well below his level of maximum fitness.

"Because of the (training) time we lost because of the foot, we can't expect Rocky to be close to 100 per cent for the Rebel," said Servis. "But I do know he will go forward off the race. If he can get through this race and have no more setbacks, he'll be ready for the Kentucky Derby. He has enough talent to overcome his (physical) problems."

Stewart Elliott, the regular rider for Smarty Jones, will be in the saddle aboard Rockport Harbor. John Velazquez will ride Afleet Alex for the first time and regular jockey John McKee will be in the irons aboard Greater Good.

The Rebel Stakes will be telecast live on ESPNNews. Coverage of the Kentucky Derby prep is scheduled to begin at 630p.m.

WEST/ROMAN RULER, WILKO MAKE ANTICIPATED RETURNS IN SAN FELIPE - Two of the most celebrated members of the 2-year-old crop of 2004 - Fog City Stable's Roman Ruler and J. Paul Reddam and Susan Roy's Wilko - are set to make their anticipated debuts as 3-year-olds in Saturday's 68th running of the $250,000 San Felipe (GII) at Santa Anita.

The 2005 bow of the Bob Baffert-trained Roman Ruler has been delayed by nagging foot injuries and the trainer had hoped to avoid running the son of 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus on a wet track while the colt nurses his latest quarter crack. Alas, there is rain in the forecast, but Baffert is committed to run in the 1 1/16-mile race.

"It's too late to ship (to Aqueduct for the one-turn, one mile Gotham) and I want him to go around two turns," Baffert said. Wilko, the upset winner of the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (GI) and third to eventual juvenile champion Declan's Moon in the Hollywood Futurity (GI) in his first race for new trainer Craig Dollase, missed significant training during the rainy California winter and that delayed his season debut.

Gary Stevens will ride Roman Ruler and Corey Nakatani has the assignment on Wilko.

The San Felipe field has also attracted Don't Get Mad, the Ron Ellis-trained runner-up to Fusaichi Rock Star in the San Vicente (GII); the D.Wayne Lukas-trained Consolidator, winner of the Lane's End Breeders' Futurity (GI) at Keeneland; Golden Shine, an Ohio-bred allowance winner at Santa Anita; Hollywood Futurity runner-up Giacomo; and longshots In Excelsis and Lucky J.T.

EAST/SUN KING IN TAMPA BAY, GALLOPING GROCER IN GOTHAM - One of the top members of trainer Nick Zito's quintet of Kentucky Derby contenders looms as a heavy favorite in Saturday's $250,000 Tampa Bay Derby (GIII) at Tampa Bay Downs.

Tracy Farmer's Sun King, third to Wilko in the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile and an impressive winner in his allowance debut, looms as a heavy favorite in 1 1/16-mile race at Tampa Bay. The son of 1999 Kentucky Derby winner Charismatic will face six rivals.

Meanwhile, the one-mile, $150,000 Gotham (GIII) at New York's could offer redemption for Galloping Grocer, a New York-bred gelding who was considered one of the top 2-year-olds of 2004. He ran a disappointing fourth for trainer Domnick Schettino in his 3-year-old debut in the Whirlaway at Aqueduct on Feb. 12. He suffered a cut on his leg during that race and later bruised a foot in training.

He gets a new jockey for the Gotham in Mike Luzzi and faces eight rivals that include the Shug McGaughey-trained Survivalist and Whirlaway runner-up Naughty New Yorker.

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