It wlll be a defining weekend for many Kentucky Derby aspirants with two of the major Grade One prep races to be run at Aqueduct in New York and Santa Anita in California.
At Aqueduct Godolphin's Derby hopes go on the line when the Kiaran McLaughlin-trained Alpha lines up in the $1 million Wood Memorial, New York's main trial for the Churchill Downs classic.
After disappointing in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, the son of Bernardini has won both his starts this year most recently the G3 Withers Stakes in February.
He faces a stern test against Todd Pletcher's unbeaten colt Gemologist, winner of all three starts at two including the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs before returning with a seven lengthsallowance victory at Gulfstream Park on March 16.
"I feel like he's had an outstanding winter and spring," said Pletcher. "Knock on wood, everything has really gone according to plan.
"The horse physically has blossomed and he's just been a pleasure to train.
"There's not a lot of margin for error for his Wood Memorial performance. It's important for him to run first or second and give us a good effort."
In California Mike Harrington's Creative Cause is out to stamp himself the west coast's number one Derby hope in California's most prestigious race for three-year-olds, the Santa Anita Derby.
A G1 winner at two, Creative Cause showed he was on course for Churchill Downs when landing the G2 San Felipe Stakes at his seasonal return.
In a major mopve Harrington has taken the blinkers off the colt.
"He's training nicely without them, so we're going to run without blinkers," Harrington said.
"In his races, he gets to wandering around the stretch. We want to find out if it would make a difference, and not wait until the Kentucky Derby to try it."
Rivals in Saturday's $750,000 event include Robert B Lewis Stakes winner I'll Have Another and the Bob Baffert trio of Futurity winner Liaison, maiden winner Paynter and outsider Blueskiesandrainbows.
More Derby hopefuls will contest the $500,000 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne Uncle where Todd Pletcher sends in Our Entourage against Currency Swap, winner of the G1 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga last term before being sidelined with an ankle injury.
