Around the Backstretch

A look at the items making headlines around the world of racing on this Monday:

• Baffert Weighing Lookin At Lucky's Next Race - BloodHorse.com
  Trainer Bob Baffert said Lookin At Lucky's response to training will determine whether the colt will run in the Santa Anita Derby or wait a week for Arkansas Derby
• Vale of York, Midshipman to bypass Dubai races - Thoroughbred Times
  Vale of York wlll miss the $2-million S & M Al Naboodah Group United Arab Emirates Derby (UAE-G2) due to colic, and Midshipman will bypass the $1-million Etisalat Godolphin Mile (UAE-G2) because of a reoccurrence of the soft tissue injury he sustained while training in early 2008 at Godolphin’s Al Quoz training stables.
• Q&A with Breeders’ Cup consultant William Field - Thoroughbred Times
• Daily Racing Form: News: Cup needs more than one home
  Change is coming to the Breeders' Cup, and necessarily so. The organization paid out more in purses for its 14 races last year than it took in via fees and handle commissions, and the contraction in the bloodstock market will further reduce revenue from foal and stallion nominations.
• Next stop Louisville for Fla. Derby trio - ESPN
  The top three finishers from Saturday's $750,000 Florida Derby came out of their races in good order and will now set their sights on the May 1 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, their connections said Sunday.
• Discreetly Mine heads baker's dozen in Louisiana Derby - Handicappers' Edge
  The Louisiana Derby, which will have its latest renewal in many years, anchors a 13-race program on the penultimate day of the 2009-10 Fair Grounds meet. Due to its closer proximity to the Kentucky Derby, the Louisiana version has returned to its original 1 1/8-mile distance, which was last used in 1987.
• No champion but World Cup thick with Group 1 talent March 22 - Racing Post
  Dubai's spectacular new mega-course, has been heralded as the ultimate horse-racing experience, but as it takes up hosting duties for the world's richest-ever race this weekend, the management could be forgiven for feeling a shade disappointed at the turnout.

• Triple Crown Talk | Q&A With Odysseus Trainer Tom Albertrani - BloodHorse.com Blog Stable
  Will the talented 3-year-old have another Kentucky Derby prep?