STAKING OUT 2 DERBY HOPEFULS.

Byline: -Kevin Modesti

Leading filly Sweet Catomine's audition for the Santa Anita Derby, and California up-and-comer Scipion's bid for a major victory in Louisiana, highlight this weekend's stakes with Triple Crown implications.

The races coincide with the second round of parimutuel ``futures'' wagering on the May 7 Kentucky Derby. Betting goes on through Sunday at tracks nationwide. Declan's Moon is the morning-line favorite at 5-1.

Sweet Catomine, voted the 2-year-old fillies champion in 2004 and a winner in her only start this season, will be a heavy favorite in a small field in Sunday's $300,000 Santa Anita Oaks. If she comes through in the race against 3-year-old fillies, she would be expected to face males for the first time in the April 9 Santa Anita Derby. After that could come a bid to be the fourth filly to win a Kentucky Derby.

Expected to be entered this morning for the Oaks: Cream Donut Keith, Tyler Baze riding; Feel The Heat, jockey to be named; Guaranteed Victory, Rene Douglas; and Sweet Catomine, Corey Nakatani.

Scipion, trained by Santa Anita-based Patrick Biancone and ridden by Gary Stevens, goes into Saturday's $600,000 Louisiana Derby after coming from behind to win the Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

The $1.9 million son of A.P. Indy is the 4-1 second choice on the morning line, behind 5-2 High Limit, in a field of nine horses.

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OUT OF THE GATE

BY KEVIN MODESTI