Dan Illman

Two weeks to the Kentucky Derby and the field is still in flux.  It's the last chance for Silver Medallion, the El Camino Real Derby winner that bombed as the chalk in the Santa Anita Derby.  He'll get his opportunity to run for the roses if he win today's Grade 3 Lexington at Keeneland. Preakness hopefuls will clash over wet going at Aqueduct, but the major story of the weekend is the guaranteed payout of the Rainbow Pick Six on closing afternoon at Gulfstream Park. 

Today's HandiGambling 230 exercise is the eighth race at Keeneland, the 23rd running of the Grade 3 Appalachian for 3-year-old fillies at one mile on the turf.

Let's get down to business. Who gave the beat performance of the past week?  Please watch the videos at the below link and let me know: http://www.drf.com/news/weekend-stakes-preview-videos ***

After Uncle Mo's shocking defeat in last week's Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, the door is open for The Factor to roll into Louisville with all of the Mo-mentum.  The Baffert-trained colt will be favored as he seeks to extend his win streak to four in the Grade 1, $1,000,000 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park.  At Keeneland, Santiva is the tepid morning line favorite in the Grade 1, $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass, a race where the majority of the entrants have some things to prove as it pertains to the Kentucky Derby. 

Today's HandiGambling 229 exercise is the eighth race at Keeneland, an 'n2x' allowance for older runners at 1 1/16 miles on the grass.