Two Derbies Half Way Around the World

Well, one derby down for the day - UAE in Dubai. Regal Ransom may have given Goldolphin their biggest threat with an upset in their own desert race. Desert Party - the 1-5 choice on Xpressbet's site - finished a half length behind. Who knows, maybe both will ship East to Churchill for the first Saturday in May.

Back in our sphere of the world, Dunkirk either has his coming out party this afternoon - a la Big Brown - or goes home and waits for the Preakness or Belmont. Dunkirk, while a recent phenomenon with two straight wins, has no graded stakes winnings and needs the $450,000 winners share in today's Florida Derby to get into the Kentucky Derby. With several big money preps left, the second place money of $150,000 will probably leave Dunkirk out of the Derby entry box.

I'll be betting against him - using both Quality Road and Theregoesjojo in exotics.