There will be Southern California-based runners in two major Kentucky Derby preps in Arkansas and Kentucky this weekend.

The Bob Baffert-trained Bodemeister will be ridden by Mike Smith in Saturday’s $1 million Arkansas Derby. Sunday at Santa Anita, Bodemeister, second to Creative Cause in the San Felipe, worked five furlongs in 1:00.40.

“He just cruised around there,” Baffert said.

Baffert will also start Secret Circle, the winner of the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 17, in the Arkansas Derby.

ARCADIA, Calif. -  As many as three runners from Saturday’s $750,000 Santa Anita Derby are candidates for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 5.

As expected, I’ll Have Another and Creative Cause, the first two finishers who were separated by a nose at the wire, are Kentucky-bound.

STICKNEY, Ill. – Done Talking was en route by horse van Sunday from Illinois to Maryland after winning the Grade 3, $500,000 Illinois Derby on Saturday at Hawthorne Race Course, but the horse probably will hit the road again before too long, with his connections aiming for the May 5 Kentucky Derby.

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif.- New Look ran a flawless race to win his first stakes in Saturday’s $180,320 El Primero Del Ano Derby for 3-year-old Quarter Horse colts and geldings at Los Alamitos.

New Look ($4.60) broke well from post 2, took the lead shortly after the start, and was ridden confidently late by jockey Rodrigo Aceves. New Look ran 400 yards in 19.81 seconds, finishing a half-length in front of Kobe, the 7-5 second choice in the betting.

Mimi Wells and Dan Francisco own and train New Look and third-place finisher Willie Dasher, who was beaten a length by New Look.

Comely Stakes winner Broadway’s Alibi will train at Palm Meadows while trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Joyce Robsham contemplate where to run next. Immediately following the Comely, Pletcher seemed less inclined to stretch her out to 1 1/8 miles in the Kentucky Oaks, but said Sunday he wouldn’t make that decision until after she breezes back in two weeks.

 “Mrs. Robsham is very patient. There’ll be no pressure from her to run in the Oaks unless we feel it’s absolutely the right thing to do,” Pletcher said.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Gemologist and Alpha, separated by a neck when first and second, respectively, in Saturday’s Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, were reported to be in good shape Sunday morning and will both be pointed to the Kentucky Derby on May 5 at Churchill Downs.

Brass Plate reveled in his return to his home base, capturing Saturday’s $35,000 Wildcat Handicap at Turf Paradise.

Barring the unexpected availability of a plane later in the week, It’s Tricky will not run in Friday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park and instead will most likely start in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Distaff at Aqueduct, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Sunday.

When the connections of Havre de Grace announced Saturday that the defending Horse of the Year would not run in the Apple Blossom, McLaughlin got busy on the phone seeking available travel arrangements to get to Oaklawn.

ARCADIA, Calif. – As good as Amazombie was last year, when he won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint and was named the sport’s champion male sprinter, he might be better this year. And with the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita this year, his trainer and co-owner, Bill Spawr, wants to do everything possible to get back to the BC Sprint.

ARCADIA, Calif.-Amazombie was the perfect partner for Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith’s 5,000th career win in Saturday’s Grade 2 Potrero Grande Stakes at Santa Anita.

The reigning champion sprinter, Amazombie is reflective of the quality of horse that the 46-year-old Smith has made the focus of his recent career, 30 years after it started in his native New Mexico.

“My career is getting an opportunity to ride good horses in good races,” he said after Amazombie’s win. “It’s a whole lot of fun. I’m getting the opportunity to compete with good horses.”