LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With reigning champ Groupie Doll still on the sidelines, the filly and mare sprint division remains wide open and begging for someone to step up and take control – at least until the queen returns to reclaim her throne later this season.

On Saturday, nine hopefuls will look to fill Groupie Doll’s very big shoes when squaring off in the $300,000 Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs. Groupie Doll dominated the 2012 Humana Distaff, using her victory in the Grade 1 dash as a springboard to her championship campaign.

Out of respect to the connections, if nothing else, the highest that Churchill linemaker Mike Battaglia will list a horse on his Derby line is 50-1. There are six such horses in this renewal: Black Onyx, Golden Soul, Giant Finish, Falling Sky, Frac Daddy, and the lone also-eligible, Fear the Kitten.

[2013 KENTUCKY DERBY: Get PPs, contender profiles, live updates]

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – As warm-up acts go, they don’t come any better than the race preceding the Kentucky Derby on Saturday at Churchill Downs – the Grade 1, $500,000 Woodford Reserve, a race that drew reigning Horse of the Year Wise Dan and Point of Entry, a four-time Grade 1 winner on turf.

The Woodford Reserve could not be run at a fairer distance for this duo. The 1 1/8 miles of the Woodford on the Matt Winn turf course is the farthest Wise Dan has ever raced, and the minimum distance Point of Entry runs effectively.

The whole point of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager is to give bettors a chance to get some value out of being ahead of the proverbial curve. So now here it is, Derby Day, and some futures players are sitting in a better spot than others.

[2013 KENTUCKY DERBY: Get PPs, contender profiles, live updates]

Almighty O will attempt to return to his winning ways when he takes on nine other Ohio-registered older horses in the $50,000 Babst/Palacios Memorial on closing day of the Beulah Park winter/spring meet.

Trained by Doug Cowans, Almighty O was a perfect 4 for 4 in 2012. All four victories came against statebred company at the same six-furlong distance as the Babst/Palacios. The 6-year-old gelding’s final victory in 2012 came in the $50,000 Honey Jay at Thistledown on Aug. 18. In his only attempt this year, Almighty O finished last of five in an open optional claimer April 16.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trinniberg is the defending divisional champion, but Delaunay is the “now” horse.

Throw in a few other capable sorts, and the Grade 2, $400,000 Churchill Downs Stakes has come up big again.

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Thrice Nice, who scored a late-running victory in her second start for trainer Bernell Rhone, moves into the starter allowance ranks in the turf feature on an 11-race program Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs.

Dean Butler will return aboard Thrice Nice at 122 pounds as she goes after her third career win. Claimed for $16,000 on Feb.13, Thrice Nice was well off the pace in her first start for her new connections after a five-week layoff, but rallied late to finish fifth in a mile turf race for $25,000 nonwinners-of-two claiming routers.

AUBURN, Wash. – Emerald Downs will celebrate Kentucky Derby Day with a special 1 p.m. Pacific post time on Saturday, a nine-race card, and a host of bells and whistles that make it one of the most festive days of the meeting.

As it turns out, an Emerald-based horse very nearly landed a starting berth at Churchill Downs. Mark Dedomenico’s 3-year-old Carving, purchased privately over the winter, was No. 22 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leader board and needed at least two defections to get into the field of 20.

Graded turf stakes action returns to New York on Saturday, when the Fort Marcy and Beaugay, a pair of Grade 3, $150,000 races scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the Widener course, share top billing at Belmont Park.

Six older males, including New York-breds Abilio, King Kreesa, and Lubash, entered the Fort Marcy.

Lubash had a solid campaign in 2012, winning the West Point and the Ashley T. Cole for trainer Christophe Clement, who also sends out Speaking of Which, a Group 3 winner at 10 furlongs in his native Ireland for former trainer Dermot Weld.

Gone in a Flash, who runs well fresh, is clearly a force to be reckoned with when he makes his seasonal debut in a six-furlong optional claimer that will serve as Saturday’s feature at Northlands Park.

The sprint for 3-year-olds and up drew six horses, including stakes winner Boomtown Brat. Real Dingo, who just missed in the $100,000 Speed to Spare last year, adds strength to the field.