The queens of the sport strutted their stuff last weekend and besides a look at those results, we'll glance at what is in the crystal ball for the Florida Derby this weekend.

Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra was trying to make it 10 in a row in the New Orleans Lassie at Fair Grounds while Zenyatta tried to carry 127 pounds to victory in the Santa Margarita for her 15th straight.

Two horses that started with Z and end with A got the money as the bubble burst in the Big Easy for Rachel. She got a solid 2-hole trip after chasing a 42-1 shot and was obviously not 100% and an obvious short horse. Revenge came in the form of the winner Zardana, who is also trained by Zenyatta's conditioner John Shirreffs.

The West Coast-based teacher then got a double dose of adrenaline as Zenyatta kept it perfect overcoming a traffic-filled trip to rally inside and nail the leader.

Here's hoping Rachel's connections change their minds and they still throw down in the Apple Blossom in the very near future.

Now on to Florida. Make no mistake; the Florida Derby is an important prep. In the least nearly 60 years only 13 runners total did not run in the money in either that fixture, the Wood, Bluegrass or Santa Anita Derby.

In the last 50 years or so those that posted the Florida Derby/Kentucky Derby double barely hit 10-mark starting with the great Nashua.

Unbridled hit the double in 1990. Thunder Gulch took both preps in Florida before cashing in Kentucky in 1995. Monarchos posted a 105 winning figure in the Gulfstream showcase race then improved 11 digits in his smashing win in the real Derby.

The great Barbaro proved best in 2006 at 8-5 in the Florida Derby. Speed was king that day as the runners that were one through 5 after 6 furlongs finished one through 5. Barbaro had a golden trip. He sat just off the speed of Sharp Humor after bobbling at the start, reached even terms with the leader on the far turn, then wore down that foe to get up late.

Five weeks later backers got a fat 6-1 on the courageous horse in Kentucky.

Just two years ago Big Brown showed what he could do for you by wiring the Florida foes, then coming from 6th and about 4 lengths back winning over filly Eight Belles on May 3.

Last season it appeared to be a monster was maturing as Quality Road parlayed a 5-1 win in the Fountain of Youth to a 111 winning Beyer in the Florida Derby but was worse for wear and had to vacation until a winning comeback in August.

This year Eskendereya is the one to deny.

Eskendereya freaked recently in the Fountain of Youth by over 8 with a 106 Beyer drawing away.

The rest of the field will be looking for that genie in the bottle.

Alternative rockers know all about the band Radiohead, but the horse by the same name is coming around quickly and will try to hold up the image of Big Brown for trainer Richard Dutrow. The son of millionaire Johannesburg was a troubled seventh in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile but won his Florida debut in facile fashion with a 94 Beyer. This Group 2 winner will not be intimidated by big fields.

Gary Stevens played 'Iceman' in the Seabiscuit movie but Kent Desormeaux will ride Ice Box in the Florida Derby. The son of Pulpit finished fifth in the Fountain of Youth after making a big sweeping move from 10th to fourth on the far turn.

The bottom line is that they will all have to have their running shoes on tight to beat Eskendereya.