Check this blog daily for all the latest updates on Kentucky Derby contenders and other news as the Run for the Roses is now just 16 days away.

Soldat sizzles: Fountain of Youth winner Soldat zipped five furlongs in :59.07 Thursday morning at Palm Meadows in his penultimate work before the Kentucky Derby, galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.76. The colt, looking to rebound from a fifth-place finish in the Florida Derby, will work again April 29 before shipping to Churchill Downs. Alan Garcia is booked to ride in the Derby.

Factoring it in...or out: Rebel winner The Factor could skip the Kentucky Derby off his seventh-place finish in the Arkansas Derby. Owner George Bolton said Thursday that trainer Bob Baffert will have the final say and he “doubts Bob runs him.”

Musical riders: Corey Nakatani has chosen to pilot Louisiana and Arkansas Derby runner-up Nehro in the Kentucky Derby, picking the colt as his best prospect over Santa Anita Derby runner-up Comma To The Top.