(Monday, March 8) Saturday's $250,000 Gotham Stakes (G3) did not look like a particularly deep field of three year olds, and I thought it would have little impact on Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager or the Derby Trail in general, but one three year old put on an awesome act.

Well, maybe "awesome" is a bit of a stretch, but I was very impressed with Awesome Act's victory in the Gotham, which was his first start since running fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G2), as well as his first start on conventional dirt.

Anyone betting the "field" in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager has to be happy, as both Awesome Act and Sham Stakes (G3) winner Alphie's Bet were not among the 23 separate betting interests.

The two that were, Setsuko and The Program, finished second and third in the Sham.

Awesome Act earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure for his Gotham win. Alphie's Bet earned an 86 for his Sham victory.

The Derby Trail heats up in a big way next Saturday, with the Rebel (G2), San Felipe (G2), and Tampa Bay Derby (G3) on the menu.

Here is a look at the four contenders I like best as of March 8. (They could easily change by midnight).

Turf 'n' Sport Derby Superfecta:

Eskendereya: This colt is a no brainer and looks like the best runner from a very deep Todd Pletcher barn. Did I mention Pletcher is zero for 24 in the Derby? Whatever the Over / Under is on how many times I hear the four time Eclipse Award winner is 0 for 24, I'll take the Over.

The son of Giant's Causeway breezed four furlongs on Saturday at Palm Meadows in an easy :49 1/5 and is on track for the Florida Derby (G1) on March 20.

His Fountain of Youth Stakes, where he drew clear to win by 8 ½ lengths was by far the most impressive effort by a three year old this year.

I love his pedigree, by Giant's Causeway out of the Seattle Slew mare Aldebaran Light, who won going long on turf and dirt.

The colt went from 22/1 in Pool 1 of the KDFW to 5/1 in Pool 2.

Dublin: D. Wayne Lukas knows how to win a Triple Crown race. The hall of fame trainer has won the Kentucky Derby four times, the Preakness five times, and has four Belmont Stakes wins on his resume.

However, it has been awhile, his last Derby winner was Charismatic in 1999.

The trainer is high on his three-year-old Dublin, who checked in second last out in the Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park behind the gate to wire winner.

The colt has a solid foundation as a two year old, starting five times including winning the Hopeful Stakes (G1).

With many of the top Derby contenders being speed types, his closing style sure looks appealing.

His sire Afleet Alex won the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes, while is mare Classy Mirage was a Grade 1 winning sprinter.

His next start comes this Saturday in the Rebel at Oaklawn Park.

Conveyance: The Bob Baffert trainee is perfect in four career starts, basically going gate to wire in all of them. It is pretty tough to go gate to wire on the first Saturday of May.

The question mark is his pedigree. He is by Indian Charlie out of the Holy Bull mare Emptythetill, who never routed in her three career starts. The pedigree suggests 1 ¼ miles may be too far, but the colt does have some ability and is in a barn that has won the Derby three times.

His next start is up in the air, with the Wood Memorial (G1), Arkansas Derby (G1), and even the UAE Derby (G2) mentioned.

The colt dipped from 33/1 in Pool 1 to 28/1 in Pool 2 of the KDFW.

Awesome Act: I know the Gotham was not a real tough field and the top three finishers from the Whirlaway all ran poorly, but you have to like the way Awesome Act ran, which was his first start on conventional dirt, and his first start off a four month layoff.

His 98 Beyer stacks up nicely with recent winners Caracortado (Lewis, 98), Conveyance (Southwest, 97), D'Funnybone (Hutcheson, 99), and Discreetly Mine (Risen Star, 94).

The colt is by 1998 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Awesome Again out of the Mr. Prospector mare Houdini's Honey, who won going long.

Jeremy Noseda, who headed back to Newmarket, trains the colt, who will stay behind in New York and prep for the Wood Memorial (G1) on April 3.

This weekend's Derby Preps:
Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park (1 1/16 miles)
San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita (1 1/16 miles)
Tampa Bay Derby (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs (1 1/16 miles)