We've been busy with Kentucky Derby developments over the past few weeks, but here's a quick update on racing's leading ladies and some other news.

Rachel Alexandra turned in her final workout for her planned start in Friday's Grade II La Troienne on Monday morning, going an easy half in :50 flat under regular exercise rider Dom Terry. At Tuesday's post position draw, the filly was made the 4-5 morning line choice for the La Troienne and drew post four in a short field of six. Breaking next to her from the three is Zardana, the mare who beat her in the New Orleans Ladies Stakes in March. The race lost a potential entrant over the weekend when Alabama winner Careless Jewel sustained a minor quarter crack. The filly will rebound with no ill effects but was kept out of this weekend's races because she missed some training time.

Meanwhile, the unbeaten Zenyatta worked an easy half mile in :52.40 at her training base, Hollywood Park, on Tuesday morning. The big mare could go for her historic 17th victory at home in the Vanity Handicap on June 13. Trainer John Shirreffs called the race a "logical" spot, adding that he needs to further consider weight assignments and other aspects of the race first.

Segueing to somewhere both of these runners are sure to wind up someday. The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame announced the nominees for its 2010 class of inductees this week. Up for induction this year are female runners Azeri, Open Mind and Sky Beauty; males Point Given and Best Pal; jockeys Randy Romero and Alex Solis; and trainers Robert Wheeler and Gary Jones. The Hall of Fame changed its voting procedures this year. In the past, voters would have been asked to choose one inductee from this category. This year, they may vote for their top four candidates in any combination regardless of category - a measure designed to allow two stellar candidates coming from the same category in any one year to be inducted simultaneously (there was so much debate over Horse of the Year, can you imagine the stink if either Rachel Alexandra or Zenyatta was slighted out of being a first-ballot Hall of Famer several years from now?). The results of the vote will be announced May 28, and the class of 2010 will be inducted in a ceremony August 13 at the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion in Saratoga.

Zenyatta is still perfect after coasting to an authoritative victory in the Grade I, $500,000 Apple Blossom Invitational on Friday at Oaklawn, her 16th consecutive victory.

The reigning two-time Eclipse champion older female and winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic last fall hasn't been defeated since she launched her career in late 2007. Her record now matches the accomplishments of 1948 Triple Crown winner Citation and 1995-96 Horse of the Year Cigar, who each won 16 consecutive races at an elite level while based in North America.

Peppers Pride retired in 2009 with a perfect 19-for-19 mark and Hallowed Dreams was a winner of 16 straight, but both females did the majority of their best running against state-restricted competition. Mister Frisky won his first 13 races in Puerto Rico, then rattled off three more stakes wins in California before tasting defeat. The Asian sprinter Silent Witness won 17 consecutive races earlier this decade.

Zenyatta, owner of the latest streak, has made it look all too easy. The longshot Be Fair, breaking from the rail, sprang to the lead out of the gate and allowed rider Calvin Borel to dictate a moderate pace, ticking off splits of :24.07 and :48.19 early. Meanwhile Zenyatta, under regular rider Mike Smith, waltzed out of the gate and settled in her customary position at the rear of the field, spotting the leader about 13 lengths down the backside.

The 6-year-old began to move up entering the far turn and swept by the field on the outside to take the lead at the top of the stretch, drawing away under a hand ride with her ears pricked to hit the wire 4 1/4 in front.

Zenyatta was making her first start outside of California and her first start on a conventional dirt surface since the 2008 Apple Blossom, which she also won in dominant fashion. She picked up $300,000 for her latest victory, pushing her career earnings to $5,924,580. She already owned the North American record for earnings by a female runner.

Although the connections of Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra chose to pass on the Grade I Apple Blossom Invitational today, the show must go on - and unbeaten champion Zenyatta is still at Oaklawn Park to attempt to enhance her legacy.

A victory by the two-time Eclipse champion older female would improve her record to a perfect 16-for-16 lifetime, matching the accomplishments of Citation and Cigar for consecutive victories at an elite level. Her streak includes victories in the 2008 Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic and the 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic - making her the only female ever to win one of North America's biggest prizes. Most recently, the daughter of Street Cry overcame traffic trouble to win the Santa Margarita in her 6-year-old debut on March 13.

Zenyatta captured the 2008 edition of the Apple Blossom, defeating then-reigning champion older female Ginger Punch, in her only start outside of California and her only start on a conventional dirt surface. She arrived in Arkansas on Tuesday for a repeat engagement.

With the purse, which would have been $5 million of both star females had started, reverting to its original $500,000, only four rivals could be convinced to take on Zenyatta. The chief challengers figure to be the 4-year-old fillies Just Jenda and War Echo. Just Jenda, who races for Cindy and Larry Jones, won the Tiffany Lass, Honeybee, Serena's Song and Monmouth Oaks last year. War Echo, a Steve Asmussen-trained half-sister to Grade I winner Pyro, won the Silverbulleyday and the Daily Racing Form Distaff Stakes in 2009.

Expected pacesetter Be Fair won the off-the-turf Lake George Stakes at Saratoga last summer. Longshot Taptam rounds out the field.

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.

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.

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.

Both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta turned in solid workouts today at their respective training bases.

Reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra breezed five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans. With regular exercise rider Dom Terry aboard, the 4-year-old filly broke off eagerly and zipped through early splits of :12, :23 4/5 and :35 3/5 before relaxing to go the half in :47 3/5 and gallop out six furlongs in 1:14 2/5. The work was the second-fastest of 19 on the day.

Rachel Alexandra, who was also the champion 3-year-old filly of 2009, is on track to make her first start of 2010 in the New Orleans Ladies Stakes, at a mile and a sixteenth on March 13 at the Fair Grounds. It will be her first start since winning the Woodward on Sept 5 at Saratoga. The filly has breezed every six days since returning to the worktab on Jan. 31. If the pattern continues, she could record three more works before the New Orleans Ladies.

Two-time champion older female Zenyatta worked an easy six furlongs in 1:14 flat at her home base of Hollywood Park.
The 6-year-old, who was second in Horse of the Year voting, went in company with unraced 4-year-old stablemate El Vino, who finished up a tick behind in 1:14 1/5.

Zenyatta is unraced since becoming the first female to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 7, stretching her record to a perfect 14-for-14 lifetime. The mare has worked every week since mid-January, after it was announced that owners Jerry and Ann Moss intended to campaign her in 2010 rather than retire her as expected.

Zenyatta is expected to make her season debut in the Grade I Santa Margarita Invitational, at a mile and an eighth on March 13 at Santa Anita.