Horse Racing News by Mike Welsch

Perhaps the only thing worse than rain on Derby Day is rain the week of the race, when the majority of the contenders stabled at Churchill Downs get in their final works.

Mambo Meister returned to his favorite track and the winner's circle Sunday, when he rallied to a head victory over Pinckney Hill in the Grade 3, $100,000 Miami Mile Handicap at Calder.

As if trainer Todd Pletcher won't have enough on his mind in the final two weeks leading up to the Kentucky Derby, with as many as six potential starters in his barn including the current favorite, Eskendereya, now he has to stress about the weather too.

Trainer Todd Pletcher reports that Eskendereya is doing very well after his eye-catching performance in last Saturday's Grade 1 Wood Memorial and is back galloping over his winter base at the Palm Meadows training center.

Trainer Rick Dutrow confirmed Saturday that he still plans to train Homeboykris into the Kentucky Derby instead of getting another prep into the colt.

Trainer Tom Albertrani has confirmed that the Tampa Bay Derby winner, Odysseus, will have one final prep before the Kentucky Derby, with the choices remaining either the Blue Grass or Arkansas Derby.

Calder Race Course will present 50 stakes worth more than $6 million during the Calder and Tropical at Calder meets in 2010, down approximately $300,000 from the overall value of the 2009 stakes program.

Trainer Nick Zito knew Ice Box was a much better horse than his fifth-place finish in the Fountain of Youth indicated.

Rule, the 5-2 morning-line favorite, will break from post 7 in a field of 11 3-year-olds entered for Saturday's $750,000 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.

At the quarter pole, Odysseus appeared to have no chance to win Saturday's $300,000 Tampa Bay Derby. Even at the wire, it looked like his frantic final surge had fallen short of catching Schoolyard Dreams.