March 21 (UPI) -- It's crunch time on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, with two of the big "semifinal" races set this weekend in New Orleans and in Northern Kentucky and plenty of room left latecomers to earn their way into the Churchill Downs starting gate.
On the international scene, Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill Gardens in Australia includes the world's richest race for 2-year-olds and four other classy Group 1 events. And Sunday is Hong Kong Derby Day at Sha Tin Racecourse.
Let's get our derby on and get to it.
The Road to the Roses
Saturday's $1 million Grade II Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds lost its prospective star when Magnitude was ruled off the Triple Crown trail with an ankle chip just days after winning the local prep, the Grade II Risen Star -- by 9 3/4 lengths.
