A Breeders' Cup winner with local connections looks to be on her way to her 2010 comeback.

The 4-year-old filly Maram returned to the worktab Wednesday morning, breezing an easy three furlongs in :37.45 at the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida.

Maram put her trainer, Mechanicville native Chad Brown, in the winners' circle at the Breeders' Cup when she capped an undefeated 2-year-old campaign with a win in the inaugural Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita.

Maram started just three times last year, winning the John Hettinger Stakes at Saratoga in August, finishing a troubled third in the Pebbles Stakes at Belmont in October, then finishing sixth in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf on Nov. 6 in her most recent start.

If all goes well, in just 27 days, Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta will occupy the same starting gate for the first time in the Apple Blossom Invitational.

First, though, fans will have to be content with watching them start within a half-hour of each other, as both make their respective season debuts today.

Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra will start in the $200,000 New Orleans Ladies Stakes at the Fair Grounds, which is slated to go off at 6:15 p.m. EST. Just 21 minutes later, two-time champion older female Zenyatta goes postward in the Grade I, $250,000 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap at Santa Anita.

The New Orleans Ladies, a mile and a sixteenth stake, was created for the purpose of attracting Rachel Alexandra, who has been stabled at the Fair Grounds since late November. The 4-year-old is making her first start since defeating older males in the Woodward last Sept. 5 at Saratoga, capping a Horse of the Year campaign that included wins in the Kentucky Oaks, Preakness, Mother Goose and Haskell.

Rachel Alexandra, who breaks from the two in a short field of five for the New Orleans Ladies, will have regular rider Calvin Borel aboard. The filly also gets an equipment change, as trainer Steve Asmussen replaced her regular bridle with a figure eight noseband, a bridle many of Asmussen’s horses wear that can sometimes help a horse relax and soften its carriage. Rachel Alexandra, on an accelerated work schedule in order to make the New Orleans Ladies and Apple Blossom, has been exceptionally keen in her morning works, and some worry fitness is an issue coming off her long layoff.

“We’re happy with where she’s at now,” Asmussen said following her last work. “The main thing is she’s healthy and this is a step in the process to getting her back to her previous level.”

The only other graded winner in the field, Zardana, ships in from California for John Shirreffs, who, of course, also trains Zenyatta. Davis Flores will be aboard the winner of Hollywood Park’s Bayakoa Handicap as they leave from the three, just outside of Rachel.

Clear Sailing, who breaks from post 5 under Shane Sellers, is a Fair Grounds specialist, having won an allowance by eight and the Pelleteri Stakes in her last start. Fighter Wing (Corey Lanerie, rail), second behind Clear Sailing in the Pelleteri, and Unforgotten (Miguel Mena, post 4), unplaced in the Sunshine Millions Distaff last out, complete the field.

Zenyatta drew post eight in a field of nine for the Santa Margarita, a race she also won during the first of her two championship campaigns in 2008. The 6-year-old daughter of Street Cry hasn’t started since becoming the first female to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 7, improving her record to a perfect 14-for-14 lifetime. It was thought she’d be retired after that race, but in January, owners Jerry and Ann Moss announced that their star would return for one more season.

Zenyatta carries 127 pounds, including regular rider Mike Smith, in the nine furlong event. She gives between 12 to 19 pounds to her rivals.

“It’s a lot of weight to spot them starting off the year, but fortunately for us she’s a big mare and carries her weight very well, so, hopefully, it won’t bother her too much,” Smith said. “She’s ready for something and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Striking Dancer, who carries the next highest weight at 115, won the Grade II La Canada at Santa Anita last time out. Alex Solis rides the filly, who breaks from post 5.

Chantal Sutherland rides Pretty Unusual, who she partnered to a win in the Grade II El Encino three starts back. But in her last two efforts, the filly was unplaced in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf and the Buena Vista Handicap.

Dance To My Tune (Martin Garcia, rail), Pretty Katherine (Joel Rosario, post 2), Made For Magic (Barrio, post 3), Gripsholm Castle (Victor Espinoza, post 6), Powerofvoodoo (Kaplan, post 7) and Floating Heart (Joe Talamo, post 9) round out the field.

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Although racing’s two leading ladies will steal the spotlight on Saturday, plenty of other stakes are happening around the country, including some key Kentucky Derby preps.

Eclipse champion 2-year-old Lookin at Lucky is making his first start outside of California, his first start on conventional dirt and his first start with blinkers in the Grade II Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Trainer Bob Baffert chose to ship the colt for his season debut after the success he had bringing stablemate Conveyance in to win the Southwest last month.

Lookin at Lucky, who hasn’t started since winning the CashCall Futurity at Hollywood in December, is 5-for-6 lifetime, with his only loss coming by an unlucky head in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. He also owns wins in the Best Pal and Norfolk. The half-brother to Jim Dandy winner Kensei breaks from the two under regular rider Garrett Gomez.

Hopeful winner Dublin was a hard-charging second in the Southwest in his season debut after breaking poorly and sitting near the back of the pack down the backstretch. The strapping son of Afleet Alex breaks from the outside, post 7, and gets a rider change, as the legendary trainer Wayne Lukas is choosing to replace Terry Thimpson with Corey Nakatani.

Noble’s Promise (Robby Albarado, post 6) is making his first start since running second to Lookin at Lucky in the Futurity. Cardiff Giant (Christian Santiago Reyes, rail) was second in the San Rafael and third in the Southwest.

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The unbeaten Caracortado, winner of the Robert B. Lewis last out, highlights a balanced field of seven in the Grade II San Felipe at Santa Anita. The gelding, who will be ridden by Paul Atkinson as they break from the outside, is 5-for-5 lifetime and hopes to use this race as a springboard into next month’s Santa Anita Derby.

Todd Pletcher ships in Interactif time in hopes of breaking onto the Derby trail. The colt won the With Anticipation at Saratoga and the Bourbon at Keeneland, both on the turf. Rafael Bejerano will ride, and they break from post 2.

American Lion, who gets the services of Eclipse winning jockey Julien Leparoux, won the Hollywood Prevue, then was third in the Lewis last out. The colt has blinkers on for trainer Eoin Harty and breaks from the four.

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Super Saver won the Kentucky Jockey Club last fall on the same track where the Kentucky Derby will be run in less than two months. The colt tries to take another step toward that goal in today’s Grade III Tampa Bay Derby. The colt breaks from post 6 for trainer Todd Pletcher and will have NYRA leading rider Ramon Dominguez aboard.

Odysseus (Rajiv Maragh, post 7) is coming off an impressive allowance score at Tampa and Uptowncharlybrown (Daniel Centino, rail) is 2-for-3 lifetime at the track, including the Pasco Stakes.

Also on the Tampa card, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner and Eclipse champion She Be Wild is favored in the Grade III Florida Oaks.

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A balanced field of 11 older campaigners will challenge the Grade II Gulfstream Park Handicap. Nick Zito sends out Gulfstream specialist Cool Coal Man, who is 4-for-5 lifetime at the track, including an allowance win last time out in his season debut. Cool Coal Man will be ridden by Eddie Castro and drew the nine.

This Ones For Phil is trying to stretch his speed out to a mile after winning a blazingly fast edition of the Sunshine Millions Sprint last out. Johnny Velazquez rides for Rick Dutrow. He’ll have to use his speed early, breaking from the outside, post 11.

You And I Forever (Javier Castellano, post 10) was second to Quality Road two starts back in the Hal’s Hope, Grasshopper (Alan Garcia, post 8) returned from a layoff of over nine months to win a Gulfstream allowance last out and the talented Harlem Rocker (Eibar Coa, post 5) is rounding his way back into form on the third start off a long layoff.

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The speedy Bickersons was planning to try to wheel back on just over two weeks rest in the Grade III Cicada at Aqueduct. But she'll get some extra time, as rain and high winds forced the postponement of today's card. The race will be rescheduled for March 20.

Bickersons won the Moccasin last fall and the Forward Gal earlier this year.

NYRA's leading rider, Ramon Dominguez, is closing in on a major career milestone, as he's just six victories away from becoming the 58th jockey to record 4,000 victories.

Dominguez rode two winners at Aqueduct on Sunday, three on Thursday and two today to put the mark within easy reach. He is named on six horses tomorrow at Tampa Bay - including the talented Super Saver in the Grade III Tampa Bay Derby - and seven back at Aqueduct on Sunday.

Dominguez, 33, took riding titles at Saratoga, Belmont and Aqueduct last year. He is well on his way to his third consecutive inner track riding title with 101 winners through Friday, more than 40 ahead of his closest competitor.

With the Kentucky Derby less than eight weeks away, there's little margin for error remaining. Things kick into high gear this week, as trainers juggle the schedules of their top contenders looking for the best preps and riders are, well, jockeying for the best mounts. Several of those changes make for intriguing storylines this weekend.

Eclipse champion 2-year-old Lookin at Lucky was scheduled to board a plane this morning for Arkansas, where he'll make his sophomore debut in the Rebel Stakes on Saturday. The colt worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 Monday morning at Santa Anita as his final tuneup.

Trainer Bob Baffert selected the Oaklawn prep because he'd like to get Lookin at Lucky on a conventional dirt track sooner rather than later. The Rebel will be the colt's first start on dirt, first start outside of California and first start with blinkers. If weather forces the postponement of the Rebel - the Southwest at the track in February was postponed by five days - Baffert can ship the colt home to fall back on the San Felipe.

Although the Southwest is the traditional prep for the Rebel, Baffert won't have to worry about conflicting interests in the race, as he'll instead send Southwest winner Conveyance to the Sunland Derby on March 28. The unbeaten colt was under consideration for the UAE Derby, but Baffert said that idea has been eliminated.

With or without Lookin at Lucky, both the Rebel and San Felipe should draw solid fields as crunch time for the Derby draws near. Hopeful winner Dublin figures prominently in the Rebel after finishing a closing second in the Southwest. The son of Afleet Alex sizzled through a five furlong work on Sunday in :59.60, fastest of 56 at the distance. Hall of Famer Wayne Lukas is switching jockeys this time out, as he plans to name Oaklawn leading rider Corey Nakatani on the colt when entries are drawn this week, replacing Terry Thompson. Grade I placed Noble's Promise and Southwest third-place finisher Cardiff Giant are also expected in the field.

Baffert says his promising Tiz Chrome won't make the Rebel after missing a few days of training - but another lightly raced colt by Tiznow, ironically trained by Baffert's former assistant Eoin Harty, will. American Lion breezed five furlongs in a minute flat on Monday and is ready to go.

American Lion is owned by WinStar Farm, which is loaded for bear this spring. They'll also send out Super Saver, the likely favorite in this weekend's Tampa Bay Derby. The winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club last fall at Churchill Downs will be ridden for the first time by NYRA leading jockey Ramon Dominguez. He'll replace regular rider Calvin Borel, as Borel will be otherwise occupied riding Rachel Alexandra in her season debut at the Fair Grounds. But Borel won't be out in the cold come Derby time - he will pick up the mount on Fountain of Youth runner-up Jackson Bend for the April 3 Wood Memorial, replacing regular rider Jeremy Rose.

Super Saver is trained by Todd Pletcher, as is WinStar stablemate and Sam F. Davis winner Rule, headed to the Florida Derby on March 20. But Pletcher could choose to send Rule to the Wood Memorial instead, avoiding a confrontation with fellow trainee Eskendereya, runaway winner of the Fountain of Youth. All three colts worked on Monday, with Super Saver going five furlongs in 1:00.71, Eskendereya a half in :49.38 and Rule five furlongs in 1:01.09.

It was a busy Monday for Rachel Alexandra, as the reigning Horse of the Year turned in her final work for her season debut hours before post positions were drawn for that race, the New Orleans Ladies Stakes at the Fair Grounds.

With regular exercise rider Dom Terry aboard, the 4-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro breezed an easy four furlongs in :49 flat. She turned in splits of :25.20 and :37.20, finished up the last furlong in :11.80 for her final time, and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.80.

"It’s hard to compare her to anybody else so we just gave her an easy half and let him get along with her and it looked like she went beautiful," trainer Steve Asmussen said. "She’s a beautiful mover. That’s how she runs and that’s what makes her special. She went over the racetrack very well; it was in great shape this morning. That’s all we could hope for. She got the breeze in, did very well, looked good."

Putting the finishing touches on her preparations, the filly also schooled in the paddock on Saturday afternoon and is likely to do so again this week.

Later, Rachel Alexandra drew post 2 in a field of five for the $200,000 New Orleans Ladies, an ungraded mile and a sixteenth event that was created specifically to lure the filly, who has been stabled at the Fair Grounds since December. Regular rider Calvin Borel will, of course, be aboard in her first start since taking the Woodward on Sept. 5.

The only other graded stakes winner in the field is California invader Zardana, who took the Bayakoa in December. The 6-year-old breaks from the three under David Flores for trainer John Shirreffs - who hopes, of course, to tackle Rachel with unbeaten champion Zenyatta in next month's Apple Blossom Invitational.

Rachel Alexandra carries high weight of 123 pounds, the maximum allowed under the conditions of the race. Zardana is assigned 121, while the rest - Fighter Wing, Unforgotten and Clear Sailing - carry 117.

Misremembered, a talented colt who has been knocking at the door with three straight second-place finishes in major stakes, finally broke through for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert with a game victory in the Santa Anita Handicap.

Misremembered stalked the pace set by 2008 Hollywood Gold Cup winner Rail Trip, took command when that rival began to fade badly, and grimly held off a hard-charging Neko Bay, who found room on the rail late.

The chestnut emerged from the win in good shape and Baffert said Monday that he's considering shipping the colt to Oaklawn Park for the Oaklawn Handicap on April 3. It would continue the trainer's assault on the Arkansas track - he shipped in Conveyance to take the Southwest last month and plans to send 2-year-old champion Lookin at Lucky for this weekend's Rebel Stakes.

Misremembered figures to be a threat wherever he goes, as he's already proved himself competent on a variety of surfaces, winning the Swaps at Hollywood, the Indiana Derby at Hoosier, finishing second in the Clark at Churchill and finishing second in the Malibu and Strub before Saturday's breakthrough score at Santa Anita.

Neko Bay, a late-developing 7-year-old who won the San Pasqual in January for his first graded score, gave another solid accounting of himself. The top two were followed by the consistent Dakota Phone in third, then Jeranimo, Rendevouz, the favored mare St. Trinians who never fired, Marsh Side, Delightful Kiss, Pick Six, Pool Play, Loup Breton, Tiger's Rock, Eagle Poise and Mast Track, who faded.

On the undercard, the lightly-raced but talented Crisp upset 2-year-old champion and heavy favorite Blind Luck to take the Grade I Santa Anita Oaks. The daughter of El Corredor, winner of the Santa Ysabel in January, stalked a moderate pace, took command between rivals in the stretch despite some mild contact and finished well to hold off Blind Luck. The latter, who was bidding for her third straight Grade I, rallied well into the soft pace but had no chance after altering course in midstretch, only finding room on the rail late.

Also on the undercard, Proviso outdueled Fluke to become the first female to win the Grade I Kilroe Mile. The top two were both formerly trained by the late Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel; Proviso was the first major winner for Bill Mott as the new main trainer for Juddmonte Farms.

Alphie's Bet jumped onto the Santa Anita Derby trail with a win in the Grade III Sham Stakes.

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Gotham Stakes winner Awesome Act arrived safely at Belmont Park postrace and will resume training this weekend to point for the Grade I Wood Memorial.

The English-based son of Awesome Again arrived in New York last Wednesday and was making his first start on dirt in the Gotham for trainer Jeremy Noseda after running on turf and synthetics last year. His only previous career victory came in a maiden on the turf in England; prior to last weekend, he was last seen finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita in November.

Under Eclipse winning jockey Julien Leparoux, Awesome Act came rallied four wide on the turn and pulled away to defeat Yawanna Twist, who suffered his first defeat in three starts, by just over a length.

Nacho Friend was third, followed by Turf Melody, Shrimp Dancer, Peppi Knows, I’ve Got the Fever, Wow Wow Wow, Three Day Rush and Afleet Again.

In other stakes at Aqueduct on Saturday, Wall Street Wonder outdueled Custom For Carlos to win the Toboggan and Canestada wired the field in the Fred "Cappy" Capossela.

There's a top female who could make racing history while challenging the boys today, and her name is not Rachel Alexandra or Zenyatta. St. Trinians, winner of the Santa Maria last out over Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic winner Life Is Sweet, will attempt to become the first female winner of the Grade I, $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap.

The British-bred daughter of Piccolo, who is 11-7-0-3 lifetime, is unbeaten in four starts in the United States, also having won the Paseana Handicap in December.

She faces a field of local talent that includes Strub runner-up and Swaps winner Misremembered San Pasqual winner Neko Bay San Marcos winner Loup Breton and Native Diver winner Mast Track, who also took the 2008 Hollywood Gold Cup. Tiger’s Rock ships in for Pletcher and is cutting back to 10 furlongs after taking the marathon Gallant Fox and Coyote Lake at Aqueduct. Marsh Side, winner of the Grade I Canadian International in 2008, is trying a synthetic track again after finishing poorly in the San Antonio.

The Big 'Cap highlights a Santa Anita card that includes two other Grade Is in the Santa Anita Oaks and Kilroe Mile. In the Oaks, 2-year-old filly champion Blind Luck goes for her first straight Grade I against the lightly-raced by talented hopefuls Crisp and Zilva. In the Kilroe Mile - which produced last year's dual champion Gio Ponti - 2008 winner Ever A Friend returns to defend his title against a solid field that includes the mare Proviso stepping up against males.

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There are no stars entered in today's Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct, the first graded event of the year for 3-year-olds in New York. But the race provides the opportunity to test the waters and perhaps pick up some graded earnings and move on to next month's Wood Memorial.

The first three finishers from the listed Whirlaway Stakes Feb. 6 at Aqueduct all return for another crack today. Peppi Knows wound up getting an easy trip and coasting to the win after favored Eightfiveinafifty blew the first turn and did not finish. The gelding, who also won the Finger Lakes Juvenile and finished second to Buddy’s Saint in the Remsen last fall, is 6-4-1-1 lifetime and keeps the services of jockey Richie Migliore. They break from post 6.

Afleet Again made a mild rally to finish second in the Whirlaway and Three Day Rush, a Todd Pletcher trainee, who has been off the board just once in seven starts, was third after encountering trouble on the first turn when Eightyfiveinafifty bolted.

The morning-line favorite is European shipper Awesome Act, an English-based colt who most recently was fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. The colt gets the services of 2009 Eclipse winning rider Julien Leparoux.

Wayne Lukas sends in Wow Wow Wow for socialite Marylou Whitney. The colt was eighth in his only stakes try in the Smarty Jones, but most recently was a solid allowance winner at Oaklawn. Corey Nakatani, who is now based at Oaklawn, comes in to ride.

Yawanna Twist is stretching out around two turns for the first time after beating New York-bred rivals by a combined 10 lengths in his first two starts. He gets the services of Hall of Fame rider Edgar Prado.

Nacho Friend is making his first start since finishing a close fourth in the Sanford last summer at Saratoga. Turf Melody, unplaced in the Lecomte Stakes, completes the field.

The Gotham is the feature on Aqueduct’s 11-race card that includes two other stakes. Wall Street Wonder, winner of the Paumonok on Jan. 23, tries graded company for the first time in the 117th running of the Grade III Toboggan. Rival Custom For Carlos is coming off back-to-back stakes wins, including the Grade III Mr. Prospector at Gulfstream. Three-year-old sprinters take the stage in the 109th running of the Fred "Cappy" Capossela.

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Fillies and mares hoping for an invitation to take on Rachel and Zenyatta in next month's Apple Blossom will get a chance to make an impression in today's local prep, the Grade III Azeri Stakes. Just Jenda, a two-time Grade III winner last year, is making her season debut for Cindy and Larry Jones.

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Paddy o' Prado and Dean's Kitten, both of whom broke their maidens at Saratoga, have outside shots in today's Grade III Palm Beach Stakes for 3-year-olds at Gulfstream.

The nine-furlong event is more notable for who's not in the gate than who is running. Todd Pletcher's stakes-winning colt Interactif and maiden winner Lentenor - the full brother to Barbaro - were both considered strong contenders, but will instead wait for a spot to try dirt.

Champion Zenyatta turned in what should be her final work before her long-awaited 6-year-old debut Friday morning at her home base, Hollywood Park, covering six furlongs in 1:11.80. It was the fastest of 13 moves at the distance.

Zenyatta, the two-time champion older female, won the Breeders' Cup Classic in November, running her record to a perfect 14-for-14 lifetime. She was expected to be retired following that race - and was indeed feted with farewell ceremonies at Hollywood and Santa Anita - but in January, owners Jerry and Ann Moss announced she would remain in training for one more year.

The daughter of Street Cry is on track to start in the Grade I Santa Margarita a week from tomorrow at Santa Anita.

Belmont, Travers and Jockey club Gold Cup winner Summer Bird returned to the track this week for the first time since suffering a condylar fracture in late November while training for the Japan Cup Dirt.

The 4-year-old son of Birdstone jogged Wednesday and Thursday mornings at Oaklawn Park for trainer Tim Ritchey, who replaced Tim Ice in early February when owners K.K and Vilasini Jayaraman moved their horses from Ice's barn.

Summer Bird took New York by storm last year, winning the Belmont in June, the Travers in August and the Gold Cup in October to become the first horse since Hall of Famer Easy Goer in 1989 to sweep all three races. The Eclipse champion 3-year-old male of 2009, he most recently finished a credible fourth behind Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 7.

Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra turned in her most serious work in advance of her season debut, covering six furlongs in 1:13 3/5 at the Fair Grounds Tuesday morning.

With regular exercise rider Dom Terry up, the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro hit the half in :51 flat before turning it on to go the final quarter in :22 3/5. The filly worked in company - unusual for her - with Asmussen-trained stablemate Depaul, who finished up in 1:14 4/5 with Rachel Alexandra pulling away down the stretch.

Rachel Alexandra is on track to make her season debut - and her first start since winning the Woodward Sept. 5 - in the March 13 New Orleans Ladies Stakes at the Fair Grounds.

The 4-year-old filly will have a maintenance move next Monday, six days before the race.

Some thoughts from Jeff Scott in today's paper on the synthetics-versus-dirt debate. He rightly points out that all information is relative, because not every synthetic track is experiencing the problems Santa Anita has, and there are other factors involved in racing injuries other than surface.

http://saratogian.com/articles/2010/03/02/sports/doc4b8c90b99e647012123273.txt

Some sad news but also some uplifting news about two former champions.

1994 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner and champion 2-year-old filly Flanders was euthanized in mid-February when complications arose after she was injured in a paddock accident as Ashford Stud. The daughter of Seeking The Gold was 18. She delivered a Bernardini colt in January, who is doing well on a nurse mare.

Flanders, campaigned by Wayne Lukas for Overbrook Farm, won the Spinaway and Frizette, the latter by 21 lengths, to establish herself as a strong contender leading into the Juvenile Fillies. She and stablemate Serena's Song raced in tandem throughout and battled down the stretch, with Flanders prevailing by a head. It was a courageous effort, made even more so by the fact that the filly pulled up with a fracture sustained during the stretch drive and never raced again.

As a broodmare, Flanders immediately produced Surfside, champion 3-year-old filly of 2000 when she won the Clark Handicap, against males, and the Santa Anita Oaks, Las Virgenes and Santa Ysabel. Flanders, dam of the stakes-placed Flanders Fields, looks to have another quality performer in Battle Plan. The son of Empire Maker is 3-for-4 lifetime for Todd Pletcher and headed to the Oaklawn Handicap.

Meanwhile, 2007 Breeders' Cup Mile winner Kip Deville is nearly ready to head home following a life-threatening bout with laminitis.

Kip Deville made his last start Aug. 2 at Saratoga, finishing off the board in the Fourstardave. He was retired following a bout of colic; another episode, in October, eventually triggered laminitis, a hoof disease that has claimed the lives of such prominent horses as Secretariat and Barbaro.

But after various therapies and months of care at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, veterinarian Vernon Dryden says the horse could be discharged as early as next week.

Dryden says the casts on the horse's feet will need to be changed every 10 to 14 days and that he personally will continue to monitor Kip Deville on a weekly basis.

One of only two Oklahoma-breds ever to win a Breeders' Cup race, Kip Deville also won Grade Is in the 2007 Kilroe Mile and 2009 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap; he claimed back-to-back runnings of the Grade II Maker's Mark Mile in 2007 and 2008.

It's been a busy few days on the worktab for several horses of note.

Derby hopeful Rule worked four furlongs in :48.95 this morning at Palm Meadows, the seventh-fastest of 19 moves at the distance. Todd Pletcher, who is loaded for bear this spring, is pointing the son of Roman Ruler to the March 27 Florida Derby. Rule, winner of the Delta Jackpot at Sam F. Davis, is out of Rockcide, a half-sister to Funny Cide.

Pletcher also sent out the 3-year-old Brother Bird for a five furlong move in 1:01.30, sixth of 16 at the distance. The son of Yonaguska is out of the Smart Strike mare Mining My Own, making him a half-brother to Derby winner Mine That Bird. The colt made his career debut at Saratoga last August, finishing an even third after being fractious in the post parade; he hasn't started since but has worked steadily in recent weeks, suggesting that he could be nearing a start.

Elsewhere in Florida, Colors Flying breezed an easy half in :50.40 at Payson Park. The regally-bred son of AP Indy, out of champion filly Storm Flag Flying (herself a daughter of champion My Flag, out of unbeaten Personal Ensign) took four tries to break his maiden, but did so in impressive style at Belmont last October. He's finished third twice since, including to the talented Battle Plan last out.

At the Fair Grounds, Steve Asmussen sent out his 3-year-old filly duo of Hot Dixie Chick and Dashing Debby to go five furlongs. The two stepped up the pace from their moves in recent weeks, covering the distance in 1:10.40, ninth-best of 52. No date has been announced for their season debuts. Hot Dixie Chick won the Schuylerville and Spinaway last summer at the Spa. Asmussen also sent out Jim Dandy winner Kensei for his first work of the year last Wednesday; the now-4-year-old covered an easy half in :50.20

Hopeful winner Dublin was in good shape on Monday morning, a day after turning in a bullet work at Oaklawn. The strapping son of Afleet Alex covered a half in :48.40, the fastest of 32 at the distance. After a solid runner-up effort in the Southwest in his season debut, the Wayne Lukas trainee is now headed to the March 13 Rebel.

And to check in with racing's two favorite ladies - Zenyatta emerged from last Friday's six furlong move (1:13.20, fourth of 15) at Hollywood in outstanding shape. She'll have one last work this weekend before her March 13 season debut in the Santa Margarita. Meanwhile, Rachel Alexandra will turn in a six furlong move tomorrow, her most serious work in advance of the March 13 New Orleans Ladies. The filly will then have an easy breeze next Monday prior to the race.

Champion 2-year-old Lookin at Lucky will make his sophomore debut in the Rebel Stakes on March 13 at Oaklawn Park.

It will be the first start outside of California - and thus the first start on dirt - for the winner of the Best Pal, Norfolk and CashCall Futurity. Lookin at Lucky's only loss came by an unlucky head in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

Trainer Bob Baffert says he likes the idea of sending the colt to prep over an Oaklawn track that was kind to him with another California shipper - Conveyance, winner of the Feb. 20 Southwest.

"The Rebel looks like it will be a nice, tough race," Baffert said. "We'll see what happens."