Steven Crist

It's a big and busy Saturday, with the last two Grade 1 preps for the Derby at Oaklawn and Keeneland and a $1 million race for older horses at Charles Town, but I'll be spending it at the only track running a nine-race card comprised entirely of races at 4 1/2 furlongs: It's opening day at Finger Lakes!

12:30 p.m.: Half an hour until first post at Aqueduct, where the skies are clear, the track is fast, and it feels like there's a crowded house already. With most of the grandstand still closed for racinovations, it's going to seem even busier, but there were well over 100 people lined up outside the main entrance when the gates opened an hour ago.

"The Dubai World Cup used to rank up with the Arc and the Breeders' Cup Classic as a race almost guaranteed to throw up a superstar, but the world's richest race has lost some of its shine..." "Saturday saw the second running of the Dubai World Cup on a synthetic surface and, just like last year, the form was well below championship standard....[T]he 2010 and 2011 World Cups have the distinction of being the lowest-rated in the history of the event."

A ballyhooed, undefeated 2-year-old champion makes his first start as a 3-year-old and posts the lowest speed figure of his career on the same card where Grade 2 older horses run the same distance 7 or 8 lengths faster. Cause for concern? I vote no in the case of Uncle Mo's 3 3/4-length victory last Saturday in the Timely Writer at Gulfstream.

The 3-year-old debut of a returning juvenile champion is always surrounded by high hopes and anticipation, but Uncle Mo's scheduled return at Gulfstream Saturday is even more exciting than usual. He was so exceptionally talented and dominant a 2-year-old champion that expectations are justifiably higher.