MIDWEST/BANDINI BREAKS THROUGH IN TOYOTA BLUE GRASS ROMP - Before an elite field of seven 3-year-olds broke from the gate in Saturday's 81st running of the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass (Grade I) at Keeneland, it was clear that Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor's Bandini needed to come through with a strong effort if he was to make the field for the Kentucky Derby (GI) three weeks later.

The imposing, but lightly raced, son of 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus more than lived up to the challenge and took a giant step toward realizing his enormous potential when he ran away from six accomplished rivals to score a six-length victory before a record Keeneland crowd of 33,621. Trainer Todd Pletcher notched his first Toyota Blue Grass victory at the expense of the previously unbeaten High Limit, while Closing Argument edged Sun King for third.

John Velazquez was aboard the winner, who covered the mile and an eighth distance in 1:50.16 over a fast track. Bandini rallied from third on the far turn to engage the pacesetting Spanish Chestnut and the stalking High Limit and quickly assumed command in upper stretch.

The win was the first stakes victory for Bandini, who had not raced since a runner-up finish to High Fly in the Fountain of Youth (GII) in February at Gulfstream Park. A minor foot injury has caused the colt to miss a planned start in last month's Florida Derby (GI) "I was quietly confident today," said Pletcher. "He had two really good breezes here, so I was only concerned about our post and his focus. It couldn't have gone any better."

Pletcher's colt was considered a major contender before the Toyota Blue Grass, but he appeared to be on the bubble in regard to graded stakes earnings required to make the Kentucky Derby field. But the Toyota Blue Grass took care of that problem as Bandini collected a winner's prize of $465,000.

Louisiana Derby (GII) winner High Limit and Holy Bull (GIII) winner Closing Argument appeared to do enough earn a start in the 131st running of the $2 million Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 7. But the day's biggest disappointment was the Nick Zito-trained Sun King, who was last in the early going and rallied mildly to finish a non-threatening fourth under jockey Edgar Prado.

"There was not enough pace to close into," said Prado. "We didn't break bad and I had to go a little wide but he just didn't have it today."

AFLEET ALEX DOMINATES IN RETURN TO FORM IN ARKANSAS DERBY - Cash Is King Stable's Afleet Alex, a disappointing last of six in the Rebel Stakes (GIII) at Oaklawn Park, erased any doubts about his status as a major contender for the Kentucky Derby when the son of Northern Afleet rebounded to win Saturday's $1 million Arkansas Derby (GII) by a record eight lengths.

Jockey Jeremy Rose was aboard the Tim Ritchey-trained winner, who covered the mile and an eighth distance in 1:48.80 over a "fast" track. Lane's End Stakes (GII) winner Flower Alley finished a distant second, while Andromeda's Hero rallied to edge Real Dandy for third. Rebel winner Greater Good finished fifth.

An Oaklawn Park crowd of 71,010 looked on as Afleet Alex rocketed back into the upper ranks of contenders for Kentucky Derby 131. His poor run in the Rebel generated questions in some circles about the otherwise ultra-consistent Afleet Alex, but Ritchey attributed that lone setback to a lung infection.

"It's very satisfying to silence the doubters," said Ritchey. "Winning solves everything. Now it's on to Kentucky."

The Florida-bred Afleet Alex has now won six of nine races and pushed his career earnings to $1,315,800. He won the Hopeful (GI) at Saratoga and was second to Wilko in the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (GI).

Along with the excitement of winning a race of the stature of the Arkansas Derby, Rose enjoyed a double bonus. The victory aboard Afleet Alex gave the young jockey his first Oaklawn Park riding title as he edged veteran Calvin Borel by a single victory, 48-47.

DUBAI/SETBACK TAKES BLUES AND ROYALS OUT OF DERBY 131 - Dubai-based Godolphin has announced that Blues and Royals, a 12-length winner of the $2 million UAE Derby at Nad Al Sheba last month, has suffered a setback that will knock him out of Derby 131.

A statement posted on the Godolphin Web site (www.godolphin.com) reported that Blues and Royals is suffering from a low-grade infection that will make it impossible for him to adequately train for the $2 million Kentucky Derby on May 7.

"He seemed to have the right credentials for the race, but it is just one of those things," said Simon Crisford, Godolphin's racing manager. "The horse's welfare has to come first and it just would not be possible for us to get him ready. It would not be in his best interests to send him to Kentucky."

Crisford said that Blues and Royals would be shipped to New York's Belmont Park later this month and would be campaigned in the United States later in the year.

ROCKPORT HARBOR WORKS - Fox Hill Farm's Rockport Harbor impressed trainer John Servis during a Saturday workout at Oaklawn Park, a move that served as his final prep for next week's Coolmore Lexington at Keeneland.

Rockport Harbor, who has been plagued by recent health problems that included quarter cracks and a recent blood clot in his neck, breezed five furlongs in 1:02.05.

"He's back to himself," said Servis, who saddled Smarty Jones to win the 2004 Kentucky Derby. "It's been a while since he's gone like he went today."

Rockport Harbor arrived at Keeneland on Sunday evening following a van ride from Hot Springs, Ark. He was on the track for training on Monday morning.

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