The recent Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds highlighted Paladin as a leading Kentucky Derby contender, vaulting him to the top of the Derby Dozen rankings. However, the upcoming weekend features only minor prep races in the Road to the Kentucky Derby series, including the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park, which offers qualifying points but typically attracts turf-oriented horses adapting to the all-weather surface. Notable entrants in the Battaglia include turf stakes winners Street Beast and Two Out Hero, while Stop the Car is the only dirt-experienced horse in the field, aiming to rebound after a disappointing Lecomte Stakes.

Internationally, the Road to the Kentucky Derby continues with the Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby Stakes at Meydan and the Hyacinth Stakes in Japan. Key contenders like Six Speed are skipping these races to target higher-point events later, opening opportunities for others such as Salloom in Dubai and Arcadia Cafe in Japan. These races provide valuable points but lack the presence of leading division horses, setting the stage for emerging talents to make their mark on the Derby trail.