Potential stars will come out from the bayou to the beach this weekend.

I am so excited that the real Kentucky Derby preps are finally getting started. Time to start putting all the pieces of the puzzle together and between the Risen Star at the Fairgrounds and the San Vincente at Santa Anita (hopefully) there are sure to be more than two that come away as contenders. Into Mischief is turning back to the seven furlong distance off his impressive Cash Call Futurity win but I see this as no worries, even if he comes up short at the finish which I seriously doubt he will. He has the tactical speed to be a factor from wherever he wants and is proven sprinting already.

Masterfully handled by Richard Mandella who is also represented by the equally talented Crown of Thorns, I look for him to possibly go to the Santa Catalina off this effort and then maybe venture out of California for his final prep. He can send Crown Of Thorns to the Sham stakes and then on to the Santa Anita Derby. How much fun is it to be him right now and have so many choices?

The Risen Star will pit two Asmussen hopefuls against each other in Pyro versus Z Fortune. I have been a Pyro fan long before he became trendy and truly hope he can mature at three to be a strong contender for the Derby. But the Risen Star is much more than a showdown between these two colts. Check It Twice is yet another runner from the first crop of Repent who has now had ample time in the Pletcher barn to make another leap forward. He may not have faced the best competition to date but he has done everything very easily. Visionaire looks to bring Michael Matz back to the Derby road and that in itself makes him a fan favorite already.

Don't forget Blackberry Road and the hard knocking Unbridled Vicar and we have ourselves one formidable starting gate. I know there is talk that this crop does not have the depth of last year's bumper group that set the bar so high. But for me, they are an exciting group of three year olds out there, many with strong two year old form and many who look to be bounding on to the scene with brilliant efforts at three. I eagerly await each and every prep!