LOUISVILLE, Ky. - While her legion of supporters may be pushing the panic button in the wake of Rachel Alexandra's shocking second-place finish to Unrivaled Belle in Friday's her trainer, Steve Asmussen, has remained calm and seemingly unconcerned over the reigning Horse of the Year's second defeat in as many starts in 2010.

Rail Ridge collared early pacesetter Mr. Missile late in the turn and drew clear to win the $50,000 Need for Speed Stakes on Friday night at Evangeline Downs. Longshot Zacaroid finished a willing second with a late run some 2 1/2 lengths further back, followed by Tortuga Straits.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Blind Luck may get a brief rest before resuming her 3-year-old campaign a bit later this spring or summer, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said the morning after the filly posted a dramatic nose victory over Evening Jewel in the on Friday at Churchill Downs.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Advance wagering into the 136th Kentucky Derby suggests the race could produce the longest-priced favorite in Derby history, with Super Saver being the 7-1 choice after $340,544 was bet into the win pool Friday. Only one other Derby starter, Lookin At Lucky at 9-1, was less than double digits.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Jerry Hollendorfer leaned to his right, his body language fairly screaming to his filly, Blind Luck, as the trainer watched the Kentucky Oaks on a large-screen television above the paddock at Churchill Downs. Blind Luck came to the finish right alongside Evening Jewel, the margin in doubt right to the very end.

"Did we get it?" Hollendorfer asked, before stopping to watch a replay, and doing the Hollendorfer lean once more. After a second viewing, he was more confident. "I think we got it," he said.

Score another one for the Giant Killer.

Allen Jerkens, who turned 81 last week, saddled Le Grand Cru ($56.50) to an upset win in Friday's 82nd running of the the opening-day feature at Belmont Park.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - It didn't take long for jockeys Isaias Cardenas and Amadeo Perez to make their presence known at Hastings. In just his second mount of the meet, Cardenas guided Epic Melody to a win in the second race of the meet, which opened last Saturday. Perez closed out the weekend with a win aboard $66.60 longshot Rainbow Dash for trainer Frank Barroby. Barroby was recently inducted into the local horse racing hall of fame for both his record as a jockey and a trainer. He has also had a hand in developing some of the leading riders at Hastings.

George "Cotton" Margetson, 59, a former owner and trainer at Delaware Park, died April 25 in Little Rock, Ark.

In addition to owning horses by himself and in partnership with Old Coach Farm, Margetson was a trainer for more than 15 years and operated a business transporting Thoroughbred racehorses all over the United States. He was also a board member of the Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association.

LOUISIVILLE, Ky. - Doubles Partner remained unbeaten on grass, and looked like he could be a factor in the best 3-year-old turf races of the summer in winning the by 1 3/4 lengths late Friday afternoon at Churchill Downs.

A $450,000 yearling owned by WinStar Farm LLC and trained by Todd Pletcher, Doubles Partner looked little like a stakes horse in the first three starts of his career: He was last of 11 in his career debut at Saratoga, finished a distant third of just six horses second time out at Belmont, and was seventh for an $80,000 claiming price last fall at Keeneland.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Local officials and Churchill Downs said Friday afternoon that contingency plans are in place to deal with the potential for heavy rains and severe weather during Saturday's Kentucky Derby program. Officials are expecting a crowd of 150,000 at the track.