It’s possible that the top four finishers in Saturday’s Risen Star could all meet up in the Louisiana Derby on March 26 at Fair Grounds, though for now, the connections of Rogue Romance, the Risen Star third, appear to have made the strongest early commitment to the race.

“At this point, I think we’re coming back for the Louisiana Derby,” trainer Ken McPeek said of Rogue Romance, who returned to McPeek’s winter base in Florida on Monday, and came out of the Risen Star in good physical condition, McPeek said.

Trainer Bob Baffert on Tuesday said that The Factor, who sped to victory in the seven-furlong San Vicente Stakes on Sunday at Santa Anita, would likely make his first start around two turns in the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby on March 27.

“Speed is gold there,” Baffert said.

KENTUCKY DERBY NEWS: Track all the 3-year-olds on the Triple Crown trail

HOT SPRINGS, Ark.-– The rematch is on.

Archarcharch, J P’s Gusto, and Elite Alex – the first three finishers in the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn on Monday – are all being pointed for next month’s Grade 2, $300,000 Rebel, their connections said on Tuesday.

Archarcharch was a one-length winner over J P’s Gusto, and both horses, as well as Elite Alex, encountered trouble in the one-mile Southwest. The Grade 3, $250,000 race was the first of two local stepping-stones to the Arkansas Derby. The Rebel, at 1 1/16 miles, is up next, on March 19.

The connections of unbeaten Uncle Mo, last year’s champion 2-year-old male, announced on Tuesday that their first choice for Uncle Mo’s 2011 debut is the Timely Writer Stakes, scheduled for March 12 at Gulfstream Park.

The other option for Uncle Mo is the Grade 2, $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby the same day, which had been the first choice for Uncle Mo until Gulfstream Park created the Timely Writer.

KENTUCKY DERBY NEWS: Track all the 3-year-olds on the Triple Crown trail

For the first time since 2005, the Triple Crown will be under one roof, with NBC Sports Group announcing Tuesday that it has re-acquired the rights to the Belmont Stakes and the Preakness Stakes through 2015, mirroring an agreement it previously had in place with the Kentucky Derby.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Archarcharch showed talent to win his maiden in a stakes race back in December, and his abilities were evident again on Monday when he overcame trouble and put in a sustained, four-wide bid to win the Grade 3, $250,000 Southwest by a length over favorite J P’s Gusto.

It was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third to Elite Alex in what was Oaklawn Park’s first major prep for the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 16.

Archarcharch pulled a 14-1 upset Monday over favored J P’s Gusto in the 46th running of the Grade 3, $250,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

Archarcharch, with Jon Court riding for his father-in-law, trainer Jinks Fires, looped the field before holding off an inside run by J P’s Gusto to prevail by about a length. Elite Alex ran on late to be third in a field of 11 3-year-olds, most of them Triple Crown nominees.

Indian Winter, who was scratched from the San Vicente a little more than an hour before the race on Sunday because Jerry Hollendorfer, his trainer and co-owner, thought the speed-favoring nature of the Santa Anita main trackwould compromise Indian Winter’s chances, is headed out of town. Indian Winter will run Saturday in the $50,000 Turf Paradise Derby in Phoenix.

KENTUCKY DERBY NEWS: Track all the 3-year-olds on the Triple Crown trail

Uncle Mo has continued training forwardly for his 3-year-old debut, which could come in the $100,000 Timely Writer, a one-turn mile race on March 12 at Gulfstream Park. The undefeated 2-year-old champion had his first five-furlong breeze this winter early Sunday morning at Palm Meadows, completing the distance in 1:01.40 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:14 under jockey John Velazquez.

“He went well and galloped out strong,” trainer Todd Pletcher said.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Mucho Macho Man and trainer Kathy Ritvo returned here Monday from Fair Grounds, where they captured the Grade 2 Risen Star on Saturday. The victory elevated Mucho Macho Man back into the Kentucky Derby picture, following his somewhat disappointing fourth-place finish behind Dialed In in the Holy Bull.