ARCADIA, Calif. – Even though trainer Bob Baffert puts The Factor on the same plane as champion Uncle Mo when it comes to raw talent, he and co-owner George Bolton are being realistic about how to proceed with The Factor, desirous of giving him a chance to go two turns, but sensitive to not ruin him on a difficult, perhaps quixotic, quest to make the Kentucky Derby.

ARCADIA, Calif. -- The Factor, stamping himself as one of the fastest 3-year-olds in training, rocketed to the front and never looked back when capturing the Grade 2, $150,000 San Vicente Stakes over seven furlongs on Sunday at Santa Anita.

Over a track that promoted front-runners all day, The Factor was hustled to the front by jockey Martin Garcia, who was following the instructions of trainer Bob Baffert.

The Factor, making his first start since his sensational maiden win on opening day of Santa Anita’s meet nearly two months ago, used his speed to run away from the competition in Sunday’s Grade 2, $150,000 San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – For the 13th time in as many years, the mutuel field is the favorite in Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which closed Sunday at 6 p.m. Eastern following a three-day betting window that attracted a substantial increase in handle over recent years.

NEW ORLEANS – Sometimes fast horses run better in longer races. Mucho Macho Man is a fast horse, no doubt. In his career debut he ran an opening quarter-mile in 21 seconds and change. But Mucho Macho Man, at this point, appears to be no sprinter. Stretched back out to two turns Saturday in the Grade 2, $300,000 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds, Mucho Macho Man won for the second time in his career, beating Santiva by 1 1/2 lengths.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Howie Tesher is hoping history might repeat itself when he starts Racing Aptitude in Saturday’s Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Eighteen years ago, Tesher sent out the 35-1 Bull Inthe Heather to finish second in the Fountain of Youth as a prelude to his 29-1 shocker in the Grade 1 Florida Derby. Racing Aptitude figures to be a similar longshot here Saturday.

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

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – It’s time to start sorting out the 3-year-olds at Oaklawn, which has been the prepping ground for the winners of nine Triple Crown races since 2004.

J P’s Gusto is the resident measuring stick in Monday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Southwest. Now based in Arkansas after beginning his career in Southern California, he towers over the 11-horse field as a Grade 1 winner of $527,360.

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

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The mutuel field, the 24th or “all others” option, occupied its customary position as the favorite after fairly strong wagering during the first few hours of Pool 1 of the 2011 Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

As of 5:30 p.m. Eastern, and with $51,633 in the win pool, the field (No. 24) was the 3-2 choice over Uncle Mo (No. 23) at 2-1, followed by Dialed In (No. 7) at 7-1, To Honor and Serve (No. 22) at 14-1, and Brethren (No. 3) at 17-1. There was $8,923 in the exacta pool.

Kelly Breen said next Saturday's Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park will likely not be an option for Nacho Business despite his very impressive performance on graduation day and two subsequent 59-and-change five-furlong works at Palm Meadows.

“He’s only run once so he doesn’t have the experience the rest of them will have in the Fountain of Youth,” said Breen. “And even though it’s tempting we don’t want to rush a young horse like this that we really like so much.”

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ARCADIA, Calif. – The spin stops, or starts again, Sunday at Santa Anita – right where it began two months ago when The Factor ran off the screen.

The most widely hyped 3-year-old in California reappears Sunday for his first start since a dazzling maiden win way back on Dec. 26. The Factor was out of sight, but he was never out of mind.