ARCADIA, Calif. – Baby Blake, second in two starter allowance races in March, is unlikely to start in next Saturday’s $750,000 Santa Anita Derby, trainer Mike Pender said on Saturday.

The absence of a longshot such as Baby Blake will have little effect on the betting, but he would have played a role in race strategy as a front-runner.

Pender said that the $11,250 in entry and starter fees are tough to justify for a colt who has won only $38,800 in his career for Cunningham Stable.

Without Baby Blake, Blueskiesnrainbows, another former maiden claimer, may set the pace.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Although the final result of Saturday’s $150,000 Rampart at Gulfstream Park may have been a foregone conclusion to most, Awesome Maria still had to go out and run her race. And that she did, by defending her title as the odds-on favorite in the Grade 3 Rampart with a very workmanlike 2 1/4-length decision over the late-running Beloveda.

The Rampart gave trainer Todd Pletcher, jockey John Velazquez, and owner Joyce Robsham their second consecutive stakes win on the card. The trio had teamed up 30 minutes earlier to win the Sir Shackleton with Travelin Man.

The release last August of more than $140 million in casino impact fees to the Illinois racing industry might have meant more to downstate Fairmount Park than any other track in the state. For a track like Arlington Park near Chicago, the extra money means purses can be more competitive regionally. For Fairmount, the funds mean a new lease on life.

Based on bloodlines, Mo’millions should have been an exceptional racehorse. His sire, Horse Chestnut, won 8 of 9 starts in South Africa, where he was named Horse of the Year, and won the Grade 3 Broward in his lone United States start. His dam, Plenty of Sugar, won 10 of 34 starts and seven stakes, including the 1994 Canadian Oaks and the Grade 3 Violet in 1996.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Reigning juvenile champion Hansen, prepping for the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes on April 14 at Keeneland, breezed five furlongs in 59.80 seconds at Churchill Downs Trackside Saturday.

With exercise rider Joel Barrientos aboard, Hansen went smoothly throughout, going in splits of 12.20, 23.80, 35.80 and 47.40. As with his other works, his breezed a furlong past the finish line, and was timed galloping out six furlongs in 1:14.60.

Pool 3 update; for SATURDAY A.M. Internet

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Hansen was a surprise early favorite after the first full day of wagering into Pool 3 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager after relatively light betting.

With Friday wagering complete, and with $64,756 in the win pool, Hansen was the 2-1 favorite, followed by Union Rags (9-2), the mutuel field (6-1), Creative Cause (12-1), and Gemologist (13-1). Another $18,732 was bet into the exacta pool. Last year, the combined Pool 3 handle was nearly $400,000.

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. - Alpha, in his final work for the Grade 1, $1 million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 7, worked an easy half-mile in 49.17 seconds just after daylight Friday morning at the Palm Meadows training center in Florida.

With Rob Massey aboard, Alpha worked outside of Up Market, his stablemate from the barn of trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. Both horses got the same time, but Alpha was going easier throughout.

“He’s just galloping,” McLaughlin said of Alpha as the two came past the finish line. “I’m very happy. He’s fit and ready.”

OLDSMAR, Fla. - The final two turf races on Friday's program at Tampa Bay Downs were moved to the main track after the riders, citing several "trouble spots" on the Tampa turf course, refused to ride, according to track spokesperson Margo Flynn.

Originally three turf races were scheduled on Friday’s program, the fifth, seventh, and ninth.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - As was the case a year ago, Gulfstream Park's  Rainbow 6 jackpot will be dispersed in its entirely on the next-to-last day of the meet, April 7, rather than the final day, April 8, if it is not hit before that time. The Rainbow 6 jackpot stood at more than $500,000 as of Friday.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Bill Kaplan will put his star, Eclipse Award winner Musical Romance, on the road to Kentucky next week. Musical Romance, winner of the Grade 2 Inside Information on March 17, is being pointed for Keeneland’s Madison Vinery on April 12.

“She’ll work Monday and ship to Keeneland on Tuesday,” said Kaplan. “I won’t do much more than gallop and maybe blow her out a quarter-mile after she gets to Keeneland.”