Live Oak Plantation's High Fly emerged as the undisputed king of Florida's 3-year-olds with a victory of stablemate Noble Causeway in Saturday's $1 million Florida Derby (Grade I) that gave trainer Nick Zito his first win in that key Kentucky Derby prep.

The son of Atticus rallied from just off the pace to overhaul the pacesetting B.B. Best and jockey Jerry Bailey used a strong hand ride to hold Noble Causeway safe in the run to the finish line. High Fly won by 1 ½-lengths and covered the mile and an eighth distance over a "fast" track in 1:49.43.

B.B. Best held on to finish third and Park Avenue Ball was fourth. High Fly's preparation for the Florida Derby was compromised during the week before the race when a fever forced him to miss a day of training, but he displayed no lingering effects. "He showed a lot of courage," said Zito, who had failed to win with 16 previous starters in the Florida Derby. "I just kept saying, 'Show your heart,' because this horse has great heart and great, great determination."

High Fly has now won five times in six career races and is two-for-two since his transfer to Zito from the barn of trainer William White to Zito after the colt's only career loss in the Holy Bull (GIII). The Florida Derby win boosted his career earnings to $897,300. Both High Fly and Noble Causeway are scheduled to run next in Kentucky Derby 131 at Churchill Downs on Sat., May 7. Zito, a two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer, has three more Derby contenders in his barn in Sun King, who will run in the Toyota Blue Grass (GI) on April 16; Bellamy Road, who is expected to run in the Wood Memorial (GI) on April 9; and Andromeda's Hero, who is set for a run in the Arkansas Derby (GII) on April 16.

If High Fly makes it into the Kentucky Derby starting gate, he will be the second Derby starter for Live Oak Plantation's Charlotte Porter. She also owned Laser Light, who finished second to Gato Del Sol in the 1982 Kentucky Derby.

Mighty Mecke suffered his first career loss as he finished fifth in the Florida Derby. Vicarage, Papi Chullo, Evil Minister and Wallstreet Scandal completed the order of finish.

WEST/THOR'S ECHO SURPRISES IN WINSTAR DERBY - Suarez Racing Stable's Thor's Echo dueled with favored Southern Africa from the start and edged away in the final yards to win Saturday's $500,000 WinStar Derby at New Mexico's Sunland Park.

The Doug O'Neill-trained son of Swiss Yodeler turned the tables on Southern Africa, who had won the Borderland Derby over the same track as Thor's Echo finished third. Corey Nakatani rode the winner while Jon Court was aboard the runner-up. Southern Africa appeared ready to push past Thor's Echo in mid-stretch, but the winner fought back under Nakatani and drew clear in the final yards.

"I was real nervous going into the turn," said O'Neill. "Corey told me afterward he was confident the whole way."

"I've ridden in some Triple Crown races, and a horse like this could win the Preakness," Nakatani told the El Paso Times. "A lot of young horses won't re-kick like he did. He showed the heart and determination of a really good horse."

Stonerside Stable and Preferred Pal's Stable's Sort It Out rallied to finish third, a neck behind Southern Africa. Thor's Echo, a California-bred gelding who is nominated to the Kentucky Derby and Visa Triple Crown, covered the mile and an eighth distance in 1:49.59. He has won two races in four starts and his WinStar Derby victory boosted his career earnings to $321,560. O'Neill and Nakatani also won Saturday's WinStar Sunland Park Oaks with Cee's Irish.

CENTRAL/MORE HEALTH WOES FOR ROCKPORT HARBOR - The concern throughout the winter for Fox Hill Farm's Rockport Harbor has been a nagging foot ailment, but now the colt's status for the Arkansas Derby (GII) and the Kentucky Derby is clouded by blood clot that has developed in his neck. Trainer John Servis, who guided Smarty Jones to victory in last year's Kentucky Derby, said Rockport Harbor's status for the April 16 Arkansas Derby (GII) is now "day to day."

The Daily Racing Form reported that Dr. Doug Byars, a prominent veterinarian from Lexington, Ky., flew in to examine Rockport Harbor on Sunday. The Remsen (GII) winner is being treated for the ailment with a combination of blood thinners and antibiotics.

"The main concern is the blood clot dissolving," Service told the Daily Racing Form. "Dr. Byars doesn't want him to go to the racetrack and break that loose and have it travel somewhere, so we can't send him to the track until Wednesday."

Servis said that Rockport Harbor could run in the Coolmore Lexington (GII) at Keeneland on April 23 if he is forced to miss the Arkansas Derby.

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