Dubai World Cup, Derby preps set for Dubai, Japan, Arkansas, Florida

Forever Young, shown winning the $20 million Saudi Cup on February 14, is the overwhelming favorite in Saturday's $12 million Dubai World Cup. Photo by and courtesy of Katsumi Saito March 27 (UPI) -- Another big weekend of racing across the globe brings the stellar Dubai World Cup program and Kentucky Derby qualifying races in Dubai, Japan, Arkansas and Florida. An array of solid racing surrounds all that, along with more top-level heats in Japan and Australia.

Catch your breath and dive right in. The Road to the Roses Commandment, seen winning the Fountain of Youth Stakes in his last start, is the favorite in Saturday's Grade I Florida Derby. Photo by Lauren King, courtesy of Gulfstream Park Saturday's $1 million Grade I Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park has Commandment, who won the Grade II Fountain of Youth in his last start; The Puma, last winner of the Grade III Tampa Bay Derby; and Nearly, winner of the Grade III Holy Bull in his most recent start.

Then there's Chief Wallabee, last seen second in the Fountain, and Wayne's Law, runner-up in the Sam F. Davis in his last start. The oddsmaker has Chief Wallabee reversing the order of finish from the Fountain, posting him as 2-1 favorite, Commandment at 5-2 and Nearly at 3-1.

Renegade, shown winning the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, is the favorite in Saturday's Grade I Arkansas Derby. Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Downs It's a rarity when a Bob Baffert colt hits the morning line at odds as long as 5-1, but that's how it is for Saturday's seemingly very wide-open $1.