HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The Kentucky Derby favorite could be decided at Oaklawn Park on Saturday when Concert Tour attempts to remain unbeaten in four starts in the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby.

Juvenile champion Essential Quality, undefeated in five starts, is the early favorite for the May 1 classic at Churchill Downs.

But Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert is not concerned with such details three weeks out from the Derby, a race he has won six times. He’s simply focused on the moment at hand with Concert Tour, who will be a heavy favorite Saturday.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Next stop, Louisville. The road to the Kentucky Derby makes its way through a couple of final checkpoints Saturday, with the closest to Churchill Downs being the one just up Interstate 64 at Keeneland in the rival town of Lexington.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Bourbonic and Dynamic One, the one-two finishers in last Saturday’s Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial, will ship to Churchill Downs on Sunday to prepare for the May 1 Kentucky Derby, Todd Pletcher, who trains both 3-year-olds, said Wednesday.

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The potholes that can be found on the road to the Kentucky Derby knocked out one of the top contenders Wednesday, when Greatest Honour was ruled out of the race.

WHO’S HOT

Roman Centurian, a late scratch from the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, was not entered in Saturday’s Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park after trainer Simon Callaghan said he was unsatisfied with the colt’s progress earlier this week.

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Callaghan expressed similar thoughts prior to the Santa Anita Derby.

Last November, a few days before the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland, jockey Umberto Rispoli drove to Louisville, Ky., to get a first-hand look of racing at Churchill Downs. Rispoli did not have a mount, but wanted to visit the historic track.

In a few weeks, Rispoli will return to Churchill Downs with a much greater purpose. On May 1, he is scheduled to ride the undefeated Rock Your World in the Kentucky Derby and the top turf horse Smooth Like Strait in the Grade 1 Old Forester Turf Classic.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Proxy may or may not already have enough qualifying points to make the 20-horse cutoff for the May 1 Kentucky Derby, but forget that for a moment. A more immediate concern for trainer Mike Stidham is seeing whether the colt is good enough to win a Grade 3 race such as the $200,000 Lexington Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland.

“I can’t answer any questions about the Derby until we see how he runs in this spot,” Stidham said.

Greatest Honour, one of the top contenders for the Kentucky Derby, is out of the race and will get 60 days off, trainer Shug McGaughey said Wednesday from Florida.

McGaughey said he wasn't satisfied with Greatest Honour exiting the Florida Derby and had him examined "the other day" in Kentucky by noted equine veterinarian Dr. Larry Bramlage. The decision was made to give him 60 days off, with the first 30 days turned out at the farm, where Greatest Honour is now.

Rock Your World

Candy Ride – Charm the Maker, by Empire Maker

Bred in Kentucky by Ron McAnally and Deborah McAnally ($650,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Sapphire Stable)