MIDWEST/SUN KING, HIGH LIMIT HEAD TOYOTA BLUE GRASS - The $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass (Grade I) at Keeneland has long been one of the most important preps for the Kentucky Derby (GI), but Saturday's 81st renewal of the mile and an eighth race has attracted a field that appears to be one of the strongest in its distinguished history.

Mary and Gary West's unbeaten High Limit, winner of the Louisiana Derby (GII) for Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel, and Tracy Farmer's Sun King, winner of the Tampa Bay Derby (GIII) for white-hot trainer Nick Zito, head a field of seven for the race, which has produced 22 winners of the Kentucky Derby and will be televised live on ESPN.

High Limit was installed as the 9-5 morning line favorite for the Toyota Blue Grass off the strength of a front-running victory in the Louisiana Derby in his only start of the year. He will be ridden by Ramon Dominguez, who has been aboard the son of Maria's Mon in all three of his career starts.

Sun King appeared to be the strongest of Zito's formidable band of five Kentucky Derby contenders before stablemate Bellamy Road scored a breathtaking 17 ½-length victory in the Wood Memorial (GI) at Aqueduct.

But Zito has lost no confidence in Sun King, a son of 1999 Kentucky Derby winner Charismatic who will be ridden by Edgar Prado. Zito described Farmer's colt, the 2-1 second choice, as the "catalyst" of his stable.

"I love the horse, personally," said Zito. "He's got great personality. We have great expectations. We are really confident because this is a wonderful horse."

Other major contenders in the Toyota Blue Grass is Robert and Beverly Lewis' Consolidator, winner of the San Felipe (GIII) for trainer D. Wayne Lukas, and Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor's Bandini, the runner-up in the Fountain of Youth (GI) who was knocked out of the Florida Derby (GI) by a minor injury.

Early speed was added to the Toyota Blue Grass field by the late arrival of Spanish Chestnut for trainer Patrick Biancone. Holy Bull (GIII) winner Closing Argument and Mr Sword, the third-place finisher in the Lane's End (GII) at Turfway Park complete the field.

AFLEET ALEX, GREATER GOOD TOP ARKANSAS DERBY - Two of the three major Kentucky Derby contenders that have called Oaklawn Park home over the winter have made it to Saturday's $1 million Arkansas Derby (GII), the prep that propelled Smarty Jones to victory in last year's Kentucky Derby.

But Cash Is King Stable's Afleet Alex and Lewis Lakin's Greater Good are coming into the race off starkly different performances. Afleet Alex, one of the last year's top 2-year-olds for trainer Tim Ritchey, turned in a dismal performance while finishing last of six in the Rebel (GIII) on March 19. While Afleet Alex disappointed that day as the odds on favorite, Greater Good rallied from off the pace to nip Rockport Harbor, the third member of Oaklawn's "Big Three" for his second victory in as many races in 2005.

Despite his poor run in the Rebel, Afleet Alex was installed as the 2-1 favorite and Greater Good was listed as the race's second choice. The odds surprised veteran trainer Bob Holthus, who has saddled Greater Good to win five of his last six races.

"Afleet Alex has had a lot of the hype, a lot of the attention, as a two-year-old," said Holthus. "He's had success, but he still has never won going two turns."

Greater Good, meanwhile, is unbeaten in four races at two-turn distances.

Health problems forced Rockport Harbor out of the Arkansas Derby and the John Servis-trained colt will run in next week's Coolmore Lexington (GII) at Keeneland. But there's plenty of opposition for Oaklawn's remaining top two and their top challengers include Flower Alley and Wild Desert, the 1-2 finishers in the Lane's End (GII) at Turfway Park.

Other contenders include the Nick Zito-trained Andromeda's Hero, a son of 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus who was a late-running fifth in the Lane's End; Risen Star runner-up Real Dandy; and Cat Shaker, the upset winner of the Rushaway at Turfway Park. The most intriguing member of the Arkansas Derby field may be Arthur B. Hancock III and Stonerside Stable's Canteen, a son of Fusaichi Pegasus who has yet to officially win a race. He did finish first in a mile and a sixteenth maiden race at Santa Anita on March 5, but was disqualified for drifting out in the stretch and interfering with another rival.

His trainer, Neil Drysdale, trained the colt's sire to win the 2000 Kentucky Derby.

"I've never run a maiden in a million-dollar race and neither has Hancock - but this is no ordinary maiden," Drysdale said. "He's a big, strong horse and very talented...I feel he has everything it takes to become a serious racehorse."

Another horse looking for redemption in the Arkansas Derby is Rush Bay, who was soundly beaten in the Risen Star (GIII) at the Fair Grounds but came back to win an allowance race at the New Orleans track. Batson Challenge, third in the rebel, completes the field.

KENTUCKY DERBY NOTES - B. Wayne Hughes' Illinois Derby (GII) winner Greeley's Galaxy has settled in to his new surroundings at Churchill Downs following a midweek van ride from Hawthorne Park. The son of Mr. Greeley is not nominated to the Visa Triple Crown, but Hughes plans to pay at $200,000 fee to make Greeley's Galaxy at supplemental nominee to the Kentucky Derby...TVG's popular "The Works" launches its Derby Week run with the first of six 30-minute shows on April 30. The show offers same-day coverage of workouts by key Kentucky Derby contenders along with analysis and interviews with the connections of Derby contenders. "The Works" will air at 11:30 a.m. (all times EDT) and will be repeated at 9 p.m.

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