Horse Racing News on May 4, 2011

The fine performances of one-two finishers Unrivaled Belle and Blind Luck in the Nov. 5 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic seemingly pointed toward their dominance in the filly and mare ranks this year.

Although Arienza has come quite far in just a handful of starts in the past two months, her trainer, Dan Peitz, thought it wise to bypass the Kentucky Oaks on Friday at Churchill Downs and instead run her on the undercard in the Grade 3 Eight Belles.

For a Grade 3 event, Friday's $300,000 Alysheba came up a pretty tough spot. Anybody who doesn't agree with that assessment need only ask trainer Chris Block, who will send out the likely favorite, two-time Grade 1 winner Giant Oak.

Dialed In was assigned post 8 in a full field of 20 3-year-olds entered to run Saturday in the 137th running of the $2 million Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Morning line odds had yet to be assigned by track linemaker Mike Battaglia.