SPANISH CHESTNUT, MAGNA GRADUATE HEAD LANE'S END - The $500,000 Lane's End Stakes (Grade II) on Saturday at Northern Kentucky's Turfway Park offers a chance for several horses to remain on the road to Churchill Downs and the 131st Kentucky Derby (GI) on May 7 - but a poor performance could mark the end of Derby dreams.

Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor's California invader Spanish Chestnut, winner of San Rafael (GII), is a narrow 5-2 morning line favorite over Elisabeth H. Alexander's local hero Magna Graduate, winner of the John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway and the 3-1 second choice. The Patrick Biancone-trained Spanish Chestnut, who will be ridden by Gary Stevens, finished third to the injured juvenile champion Declan's Moon in his most recent start in the Santa Catalina (GII) at Santa Anita. He drew post eight in a field of nine horses in the 1 1/8-mile race, which will be televised live on ESPN from 4:30-5:30 (all times EST).

Magna Graduate drew post two and will be ridden for the first time by jockey Jerry Bailey. The Patrick Byrne-trained son of Honor Grades finished second to Kentucky Derby contender Greater Good in his only other start at Turfway Park in the last fall's Kentucky Cup Juvenile (GIII).

"I know people say it a lot, but this really does look like a race with a lot of depth," Byrne told the Daily Racing Form. "We'll see how much quality there is. Obviously we're hoping our colt will come out on top."

Other major contenders in the Lane's End include Robert V. LaPenta's Andromeda's Hero, a son of 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus and winner of the Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs for trainer Nick Zito; California-based Texcess, winner of the $1 million Delta Jackpot; and the Ken McPeek-trained duo of Diamond Isle and Wild Desert.

The Lane's End undercard includes the $100,000 Rushaway Stakes, a mile and sixteenth contest for 3-year-olds that marks the return of Padua Stable's Proud Accolade.

The son of Yes It's True missed the recent Louisiana Derby (GII) with an illness after he had scored an easy win in the Hutcheson (GII) at Gulfstream Park in his 2005 debut. He will face 11 rivals in the Rushaway and Bailey has been named to ride.

SHAMARDAL MAKES ANTICIPATED RETURN IN UAE DERBY - The dream of winning the Kentucky Derby remains a vivid one for Dubai-based Godolphin stable and this year's hopes rest squarely on Shamardal, who makes his 2005 debut and his first start on the dirt in Saturday's $2 million UAE Derby at Dubai's Nad Al Sheba Racecourse.

The son of Giant's Causeway won all three of his starts at two and those honors earned him acclaim as Europe's champion juvenile. He makes his first start for Godolphin and trainer Saeed bin Suroor as he faces 10 rivals in the 1 1/8-mile UAE Derby.

The race will be televised live on TVG and on tape on ESPN's Lane's End telecast.

"We are running Shamardal in the UAE Derby on the dirt because the Kentucky Derby is a live option," said Simon Crisford, Godolphin's racing manager. "The horse has trained very well on the surface, but obviously we have to see him race on it before we can make any definite plans. Though he is a bit behind schedule and will definitely improve from the race, we are expecting a good run from him."

Shamardal won his first outing at six furlongs at Scotland's Ayr last July and returned just over two weeks later to win the Group Two Verve Clicquot Vintage Stakes, a race at Britain's Goodwood in which he defeated eventual Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (GI) winner Wilko by 2 ½-lengths. He completed his season with a front-running win in the Group One Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Britain's Newmarket. Shamardal would be the likely favorite for the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, the first of the British classics for 3-year-olds, should he run poorly in his debut on the dirt.

Godolphin won the UAE Derby with Essence of Dubai (2002), Express Tour (2001) and China Visit (2000). The latter finished sixth in that year's Kentucky Derby, Godolphin's best finish in five attempts to win the "Run for the Roses."

MALIBU MOONSHINE FAVORED IN PRIVATE TERMS - Maryland training legend King T. Leatherbury will saddle favored Malibu Moonshine in a field of 11 3-year-olds in Saturday's $50,000 Private Terms Stakes at Maryland's Laurel Park.

The son of Malibu Moon won the Miracle Wood Stakes in February and returns to face familiar foes after he traveled to Kentucky to finish fourth to Magna Graduate in the John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park. Back for another shot at Malibu Moonshine are Legal Control and Seize, the 2-3 finishers in the Miracle Wood.

VISA TRIPLE CROWN LATE NOMINATIONS DUE SATURDAY - Saturday looms as the deadline for late nominations to the Visa Triple Crown. Three-year-old Thoroughbreds may be made eligible for the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes at a cost of $6,000 before midnight on March 26.

A total of 358 horses were listed among the original nominees to the three-race series. The early nomination fee, due in late January, was $600.

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