We’re on the road to the Kentucky Derby, and Bob Baffert, as usual, has several leading 3-year-old contenders preparing for a trip to Churchill Downs.

What else is new?

Baffert has won the Derby three times, the Preakness Stakes on five occasions, and his Point Given romped in the 2001 Belmont Stakes. For Baffert, this Triple Crown business is old hat, and he has it down pat.

Among the Baffert sophomores is Jaycito, winner of the Grade 1 Norfolk Stakes. He will likely make his 3-year-old debut in the San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita on March 12.

Kentucky Derby favorite Uncle Mo stepped up the pace a little more on Sunday morning, working five furlongs in 1:00.60 at Palm Meadows in company with Todd Pletcher-trained stablemate Stay Thirsty.

With regular rider John Velazquez aboard, Uncle Mo posted splits of 24.60 and 36.80 for the opening three furlongs before shading 24 for the final quarter and galloping out six furlongs in 1:13, according to the Palm Meadows clocker.

Fusa Code might have put himself on the fast track to next month’s Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Park Derby, when he won his maiden in the local prep, the $100,000 Borderland Derby. He drove to a three-quarter-length win over stakes winner Behold de Buy in the race run Saturday, while it was another nose back in third to favorite Special Kid.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Soldat left little doubt he’s just as capable on a fast track as he is over slop or grass after leading from start to finish en route to a two-length victory over Gourmet Dinner in Saturday’s $400,000 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park.

Flashpoint ran himself out of winter racing in New York with a powerful debut victory on Jan. 15. Who knows where, and how high, the colt might be headed now. Flashpoint dueled 3-5 favorite Travelin Man into submission around the far turn and ran off to a 7 1/4-length victory in the Grade 2, $150,000 Hutcheson Stakes on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Soldat put away To Honor and Serve turning for home and stamped himself as a major prospect for the 137th Kentucky Derby when speeding away to a clear-cut victory Saturday in the 65th running of the Grade 2, $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Arch Traveler stamped himself a potential candidate for the Grade 1 Florida Derby after beating a strong field of first-level allowance horses, including a game runner-up Nacho Business, by three-quarters of a length going a mile and one-eighth for the first time in Saturday’s third race.

Who's Hot

It was a strange week. The Factor, the fastest 3-year-old in the West, is not expected to contest the Santa Anita Derby. Clubhouse Ride, a durable 11-start "veteran," is sidelined with an injury.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – When it comes to winning the Kentucky Derby, suddenly less has become more. Three of the last four winners, Street Sense in 2007, Big Brown in 2008, and Super Saver last year came into the Derby with only two preps as 3-year-olds under their belts. And if all goes according to plan, the two current favorites for the 2011 Derby, Uncle Mo and To Honor and Serve, will take the same route with only two starts on their itineraries between now and May 7.