With a couple of expected stars remaining on the sidelines, two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Nick Zito will send out a powerful 1-2 punch in favored High Fly and rising star Noble Causeway in Saturday's $1 million Florida Derby (Grade I) at Gulfstream Park.

Live Oak Plantation's High Fly, winner of the Fountain of Youth (GII), was installed as the 8-5 morning line favorite in a field of nine 3-year-olds. Noble Causeway, owned by My Meadowview Farm, is the 3-1 second choice for the 1 1/8-mile race.

The Zito-trained pair figures to attract heavy fan support in the absence of Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor's Bandini, an impressive runner-up to High Fly in the Fountain of Youth, and Marcia and Philip Cohen's Closing Argument, who defeated High Fly in the Holy Bull (GIII). Those horses are skipping the Florida Derby because of bruised feet. High Fly figured to be the favorite even if Bandini and Closing Argument had made it to the starting gate. The son of Atticus suffered his only setback when caught very wide in a third-place finish in the Holy Bull (GIII) at Gulfstream, then bounced back to nip Bandini in the Fountain of Youth for his fourth win in five career races. The Fountain of Youth marked the first time he had been saddled by Zito.

"He made some great strides in the Fountain of Youth," said Zito. "He looked very professional and, hopefully, he can move forward off that race."

Jerry Bailey will be back in the saddle aboard High Fly and Edgar Prado will ride Noble Causeway, who is coming off an allowance victory at Gulfstream Park on March 5. California invader Papi Chullo, who has yet to win in four races, must be considered a contender off a solid fourth-place finish behind High Fly in the Fountain of Youth and a runner-up finish to Going Wild in the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 5.

Another newcomer is Puglisi Stable's Mighty Mecke, a late nominee to the Kentucky Derby and Visa Triple Crown trained by Steve Klesaris. Mighty Mecke won his first career start and then scored a sharp victory in the OBS Championship Stakes at Ocala in February.

WEST/SOUTHERN AFRICA HEADS WINSTAR DERBY - Bob Baffert has won the Kentucky Derby three times, but the Californian will be bidding for his first victory in the $500,000 WinStar Derby when he saddles Stonerside Stable and Preferred Pals Stable's Sort It Out in Saturday's race at Sunland Park.

Baffert's colt will be looking to atone for a poor effort in the Louisiana Derby (GII), his first race since Stonerside purchased majority interest in the New York-bred Out of Place colt. "You can just throw that out," Baffert told the El Paso Times. "That was like a practice run. I'd just gotten him." Sort It Out previously won three consecutive races at New York's Aqueduct, including the Whirlaway Stakes on Feb. 12. The late nominee to the Visa Triple Crown will be ridden by Patrick Valenzuela and is listed as the 3-1 second choice in the morning line.

The favorite is Al and Saundra Kirkwood's Southern Africa, a son of Cape Town who won the Borderland Derby at Sunland in his most recent outing. Jon Court is scheduled to ride Southern Africa for trainer Michael Puhich.

DETTORI BACK ABOARD WILKO - Jockey Frankie Dettori, who rode Wilko to his memorable upset in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (GI) at Lone Star Park, will return to the U.S. next week to bid for another shot at a big American racing prize.

The Italian-born international riding star will be back aboard Wilko in the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby after jockey Corey Nakatani decided to ride the filly Sweet Catomine in the mile and an eighth race. Along with Wilko and Sweet Catomine, the Santa Anita Derby is expected to attract Don't Get Mad, Giacomo, Wannawinemall, Golden Shine, Buzzards Bay. Texcess, Customer, All Right and Go Coyote Joe.

UAE DERBY WINNER BLUES AND ROYALS AMONG 14 LATE NOMINEES TO VISA TRIPLE CROWN - Godolphin's Blues and Royals, a romping 12-length winner of the $2 million UAE Derby, heads a group of 14 late nominees to the Kentucky Derby and the Visa Triple Crown.

Godolphin also nominated Parole Board, the third-place finisher in the UAE Derby. Other late nominees include Rushaway winner Cat Shaker, Private Terms winner Malibu Moonshine, Turf Paradise Derby winner General John B, and Whirlaway winner Sort It Out.

Others made eligible for a $6,000 fee include Florida Derby contenders B.B. Best and Mighty Mecke; Lane's End (GII) third-place finisher Mr. Sword, Bridge Loan, Watchmon, Rikman, Evil Minister and Hello Jerry.

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