HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The scramble for Kentucky Derby eligibility points has brought an eclectic mix of 3-year-olds to Oaklawn Park for the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby on Saturday. The field of 10 includes horses who last raced at Aqueduct, Gulfstream, Santa Anita, Tampa Bay Downs, and Turfway Park.

Not having raced on a synthetic surface, Gantry might seem at a disadvantage in Saturday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Commonwealth Stakes at Keeneland on the Blue Grass Stakes undercard.

But if he is, so are most of his rivals. Of the five horses facing him – Candyman E, Bind, Big Blue Spirit, Bernie the Maestro, and Handsome Mike – only the latter two horses have raced on a synthetic surface, and Bernie the Maestro is the only winner on such a track.

So, if there has ever been a time for Gantry to try Polytrack, the seven-furlong Commonwealth seems the time.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – With college basketball and horse racing being as wildly popular as they are here, folks may find delight – along with a touch of irony – in recognizing a tournament-style elimination being a part of the racing game Saturday at Keeneland.

This is the home of the 2012 NCAA champion University of Kentucky, where 3-year-old Thoroughbreds will try earning a berth three weeks hence in a certain race at a certain racetrack that borders the University of Louisville, Kentucky’s arch-rival and the newly crowned 2013 NCAA champion.

Had things gone to plan, champion female sprinter Groupie Doll would be running at a short price Saturday in the Grade 1, $300,000 Madison at Keeneland. But Groupie Doll was sidelined this winter and spring after not training to trainer Buff Bradley’s satisfaction, and the race is now void of star power.

Trainer Ed Lehman has a good shot of sweeping both $75,000 stakes for Pennsylvania-breds on Saturday’s card at Parx Racing.

Lehman has the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the Lyman Handicap in Rod’s Five Star and the track linemaker’s 5-2 choice in the Foxy J.G. Stakes for fillies and mares in Great Lookinblonde. Both stakes will be contested at seven furlongs on the main track.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The connections of Cluster of Stars are acting like the shy, quiet type this week, electing to let their filly do the talking on race day.

By winning her first four starts, Cluster of Stars has made it plain and clear that she is extremely talented. On Saturday, the 4-year-old New York-bred daughter of Greeley’s Galaxy seeks her first graded stakes victory in the Grade 2, $200,000 Distaff Handicap at Aqueduct.

The Distaff, carded at six furlongs, is the final graded event of the winter/spring meet at Aqueduct, which concludes April 21.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – When Julien Leparoux moved to Southern California last fall to begin riding there on a permanent basis, he did so with a tiny asterisk, permitting himself to return east whenever a turf filly named Centre Court was in the entries.

“She’s a special filly,” said Leparoux. “They wanted to keep me on her even when I’m on the West Coast. I will ride her anytime, for sure.”

OLDSMAR Fla. – Saintly Love, winner of his last two outings, both over the Tampa Bay Downs turf course, and Will Run for Beer, who is also going after his third straight turf win locally, top a strong and well-matched field of 12 optional allowance turf routers slated to start in Saturday’s 1 1/16-mile grass feature at Tampa Bay Downs.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Over the last two years Hastings saw gains in both attendance and handle, and management is hoping the trend continues when the 2013 season gets under way Saturday. It might be hard to top the early numbers from 2012, though.

It was a perfect storm in 2012, with unseasonable dry weather, a first-round loss by the Vancouver Canucks in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the implausible run by local jockey Mario Gutierrez aboard I’ll Have Another.

Summer of Fun towers over her eight rivals in Saturday’s $100,000 Calder Oaks, scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on turf.