First Look: Mandaloun, Midnight Bourbon lead Saudi Cup draw

The U.S. has a strong contingent for Saturday's $20 million Saudi Cup, which is expected to be drawn early Wednesday. The weekend also brings another 50-point prep race for both the Kentucky Derby and Oaks.

Here is an early look at the likely fields.

Saudi Cup, King Abdulaziz, 1 1/8 miles, 4-year-olds and up

Mandaloun and Midnight Bourbon are expected to meet again here after finishing 1-2 in the Louisiana (G3) last out. Ireland-bred Mishriff won it last year's edition and would become the highest-earning racehorse of all time with another win. He finished fourth last out in the Champion Stakes (G1), which was won by Sealiway, also expected here.  Marche Lorraine returns here after her upset win in the Breeders' Cup Distaff.

Rebel Stakes (G2), Oaklawn, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-olds, 50-20-10-5 Kentucky Derby points

Word emerged Sunday that undefeated Newgrange will ship in for Bob Baffert. But because of Baffert's ban from Churchill Downs, the colt cannot earn Kentucky Derby qualifying points here. Barber Road has finished first or second in his last five starts, including a runner-up finish to Newgrange in the Southwest (G3) last out and another to Dash Attack in the Smarty Jones. Third in the Southwest was Ben Diesel, also expected here. Chasing Time is coming off a 7 3/4-length win in a one-mile Oaklawn allowance on Jan. 14. Dash Attack's fifth-place finish in the Southwest came after he won two straight - his debut and the Smarty Jones, both at Oaklawn.

Honeybee (G3), Oaklawn, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-old fillies, 50-20-10-5 Kentucky Oaks points

Secret Oath is generating Kentucky Oaks buzz after her 7 1/4-length win in Martha Washington last out. Second in that race was Optionality, who had won three straight at three tracks. Yuugiri won on debut and then finished second in the Rags to Riches and the Golden Rod (G2), all at Churchill Downs. Free Like A Girl has a record of 11: 6-3-2 and would make her first graded-stakes start.

Royal Delta (G3), Gulfstream, 1 1/16 miles, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Eclipse Award winner Letruska is expected to make her 2022 debut here in her first start since finishing 10th in the Breeders' Cup Distaff. It was a disappointing end to a year in which she won six graded stakes and was second in one. Into Vanishing's second-place finish in a Gulfstream allowance last out was her first start off a nearly 10-month break.