The Associated Press

Keep an eye on today's Santa Anita and Illinois derbies. The two prep races produced the 1-2 finishers in last year's Kentucky Derby: War Emblem and Proud Citizen.

After winning the Illinois Derby, War Emblem took the Kentucky Derby and Preakness before falling short in his Triple Crown with an eighth-place finish in the Belmont Stakes. Proud Citizen was seventh in the Santa Anita Derby, then won the Lexington Stakes before his runner-up finish in the Derby.

Is there a Derby champ in either field this year? Three-time Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert and other trainers sure hope so.

Baffert, who took over War Emblem's training after the Illinois Derby, sends out three Derby hopefuls in the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby - Domestic Dispute, Kafwain and Indian Express.

"So far, everything looks good," Baffert said. "We're all in the same boat. We're going to find out what we've got."

The 10-horse field for the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby looks to be the most competitive of any prep so far.

No less than half the field, including Domestic Dispute and Kafwain, has a stakes win this year. And Atswhatimtalknbout, the early 9-5 favorite, isn't one of them.

"Atswhatimtalknbout has come a long way in a short time," said Gary Stevens, who will be aboard Buddy Gil today. "Whether he can hold that form and keep improving with what he's had thrown at him is the question."

The stakes winners include Buddy Gil, who nosed out Atswhatimtalknbout in the San Felipe on March 16, Golden State Mile winner Ministers Wild Cat, and El Camino Real winner Ocean Terrace. Domestic Dispute won the Santa Catalina, and Kafwain took the San Vicente.

The 1 1/8-mile Illinois Derby also drew a field of 10, including surprise Gotham Stakes winner Alysweep. A strong showing here and trainer Patrick Reynolds, who claimed the horse for $75,000 in December, might have himself a Derby contender.

Also trying to earn a trip to Churchill Downs for the May 3 Derby are Cherokee's Boy, River Downs Cradle Stakes winner Lone Star Sky and Ten Most Wanted.

The Maryland-bred Cherokee's Boy, winner of the Deputed Testamony Stakes on March 1, will be ridden by Ryan Fogelsonger, last year's Eclipse Award winner as the top apprentice rider.

Florida Derby winner Empire Maker, the acknowledged Kentucky Derby favorite trained by Bobby Frankel, will run next in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 12. The Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland and the Arkansas Derby also are next Saturday.

Among other Derby prospects set for the Wood are Funny Cide, Indy Dancer, New York Hero and Senor Swinger.

Peace Rules, the Frankel-trained Louisiana Derby winner, tops the probable field for the Blue Grass.

Ohio-bred Ten Cents a Shine, perhaps trainer D. Wayne Lukas' top Derby hope, is scheduled to run in the Arkansas Derby.

Sheik Mohammed, who operates Dubai-based Godolphin Racing, will not have a horse in the Kentucky Derby for the first time in five years.

Inamorato, third in the UAE Derby last week, was pulled off the Derby trail Friday, Godolphin's Web site said.