March 13 (UPI) -- Saturday's Virginia Derby gives 10 contenders a chance to run their way into Kentucky Derby contention on a weekend otherwise largely devoted to sprints.
The big push of final Derby preps starts the following weekend with the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds and the Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park. March 28 brings the Florida Derby, Arkansas Derby and the deciding races in the Japanese and Middle Eastern series, each of which carries at free pass to the Run for the Roses.
By the time the Santa Anita Derby, Wood Memorial at Aqueduct and Blue Grass at Keeneland go into the books April 4, the day before Easter, just about all the eggs should be in the Kentucky Derby basket.
Things are quiet on the international front. But who's the top-rated horse in the year's first global rankings? Hint: It's not Forever Young. See "News and Notes" below.
The Road to the Roses
