First Look: Kentucky Derby, Oaks preps lead 10 graded stakes

A loaded Saturday card at Oaklawn features Secret Oath against the boys in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby and Bob Baffert's Eda leading the field in the Grade 2 Fantasy.

Those races are part of a trio of qualifying races for both the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks on tap this weekend.

Here is an early look at the likely fields for this weekend's graded stakes.

Kentucky Derby qualifiers

Arkansas Derby (G1), Oaklawn, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds, 100-40-20-10 Kentucky Derby points

The center of attention here will be Secret Oath, the Honeybee (G3) winner who will make her first start against males. Un Ojo bounced back from his runner-up effort in the Withers (G3) to win the Rebel (G2) at 75-1. Doppelganger will make his debut under Tim Yakteen after being switched from Bob Baffert's stable. We the People – undefeated in his two impressive starts – also will look to get into the Churchill Downs starting gate.

Florida Derby (G1), Gulfstream, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds, 100-40-20-10 Kentucky Derby points

The winners of the Fountain of Youth (G2), the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) and the Holy Bull (G3) are expected here in Simplification (who was second in the Holy Bull), Classic Causeway (who also won the G3 Sam F. Davis) and White Abarrio (whose win was his first start since a third-place finish in the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club). Charge It generated Derby buzz in dominating a maiden event at Gulfstream by 8 1/2 lengths. In his debut, he lost by a neck to Volcanic.

Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), Turfway, 1 1/8 miles (synthetic), 3-year-olds, 100-40-20-10 Kentucky Derby points

Probables were not available from Turfway racing officials, but Rodolphe Brisset told Horse Racing Nation that he plans to enter Blackadder, a transfer from Baffert's barn, and Great Escape if all went well with their Sunday works. Blackadder won the El Camino Real (G2) by a neck last out. Great Escape was second in a February allowance in his first start since finishing ninth in the Breeders' Futurity (G1) in October. Tawny Port was fifth in the Risen Star (G3) after starting his career 2-for-2.

Kentucky Oaks qualifiers

Fantasy (G3), Oaklawn, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-old fillies, 100-40-20-10 Kentucky Oaks points

Eda, who has five wins in seven starts for Baffert, will start from post 5. She has won four in a row, including the Santa Ysabel (G3) and the Starlet (G1) in her last two starts. Dream Lith, in post 1, was fifth in the Rachel Alexandra in her first start since winning the Golden Rod (G2) in November.

Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), Gulfstream Park 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-old fillies, 100-40-20-10 Kentucky Oaks points

Undefeated Kathleen O. looks for her fourth win here after a two-length win in the Davona Dale (G2). Goddess of Fire has not won in four starts since she graduated on debut, but she was beaten by less than a length in both the Gasparilla and the Rachel Alexandra (G2). Catiche broke her maiden on her fifth try last out.

Probables were not available for Turfway's Bourbonette Oaks, at 1 1/16 miles on synthetic, offering 50-20-10-5 Kentucky Oaks points.

Other graded stakes

Pan American (G2), Gulfstream, 1 1/2 miles (turf), 4-year-olds and up

Gufo would make his first start since finishing 10th in the Breeders' Cup Turf; he was 5: 2-1-2 last year before that start. Temple has finished in the money in his last six starts and won the Mac Diarmida (G2) last out. Five-year-old Novo Sol raced in Brazil before joining Saffie Joseph Jr.'s stable; he won his U.S. debut in a January allowance at Gulfstream.

Ghostzapper (G3), Gulfstream, 1 1/8 miles, 4-year-olds and up

This would be Greatest Honour's second start since last year's Florida Derby. He finished sixth in the Challenger (G3) last out. Commandeer would make his second start this year and the second graded-stakes start of his career; he was seventh last out in the Pegasus World Cup (G1).

Orchid (G3), Gulfstream, 1 1/2 miles (turf), fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

The second- through fourth-place finishers in The Very One (G3) – Family Way, Harajuku and Beautiful Lover – are expected to return here. Beautiful Lover won the La Prevoyante (G3) here in January.

Appleton (G3), Gulfstream, 1 mile (turf), 4-year-olds and up

Wolfie's Dynaghost had won two straight before finishing fifth in the Challenger. Phantom Currency is making his first start since last year's Mac Diarmida and is coming off bullet works at Palm Meadows.

Oaklawn Mile (G3), Oaklawn, 1 mile, 4-year-olds and up

Cezanne's win in the San Carlos (G2) was his second start after a nine-month break. Market Analysis has two wins and a second in three starts this year, all in allowance races at Oaklawn. Fulsome will make his first start since finishing fourth in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1). He also won the Smarty Jones (G3) and the Matt Winn (G3) last year.