By Richard Rosenblatt
The Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS - The road to the Kentucky Derby has its first real showdown Sunday - undefeated Badge of Silver vs. Bob Baffert's top 3-year-old prospect Kafwain in the $750,000 Louisiana Derby.

"It's great to have two colts of this caliber face off right now," Baffert said Friday after the post position draw at the Fair Grounds. "It's going to be a great race."

Trainer Ronny Werner says his lightly raced Badge of Silver is ready to make it four in a row in the 1 1-16th-mile Louisiana Derby. The Grade 2 race drew a field of 10 in what looks to be the toughest prep yet for the Kentucky Derby on May 3.

"He's ready to go," said Werner, a former quarter horse trainer just like Baffert. "This will be a good test and I expect the road to get tougher. With this kind of money at stake, you can't expect an easy race."

Badge of Silver won his first start nearly a year ago at Keeneland, then fractured a cannon bone and didn't return until January, when he won an allowance at the Fair Grounds by seven lengths. In his last start, he ran away with the Risen Star Stakes by 10 lengths.

"We're coming back three weeks later," said Werner, who made the jump to thoroughbreds just five years ago. "But he's telling me he's ready."

Kafwain, under Victor Espinoza, also appears ready. The son of Cherokee Run is much more experienced than Badge of Silver with five wins in nine starts and also is well rested. Kafwain was a solid 41/2-length winner in the San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 1.

"Kafwain gets better and better with every race he runs," said Espinoza, "and I hope it continues all the way to the Kentucky Derby."

The field, from the rail out (with riders and odds), is: Gohalo (Lonnie Meche, 50-1), Funny Cide (Jose Santos, 15-1), Lone Star Sky (Calvin Borel, 12-1), Defrere's Vixen (Donnie Meche, 20-1), Kafwain (Espinoza, 7-5), Prince Alphie (Larry Melancon, 20-1), Winning Fans (John Jacinto, 30-1), Commander's Affair (Gerard Melancon, 30-1), Peace Rules (Edgar Prado, 8-1) and Badge of Silver (Robby Albarado, 3-2).

With Badge of Silver, Werner hopes to become the latest quarter horse trainer to make it big with thoroughbreds. First there was D. Wayne Lukas. Then there was Baffert.

"People can come from anywhere," Werner said. "It just so happens Lukas and Baffert have been in quarter horsing. I'm just trying to get somewhere they've already been."

But unlike Lukas and Baffert, Werner has not trained a Kentucky Derby winner, or even a Kentucky Derby starter. If Badge of Silver comes up big, his next start will likely be the Illinois Derby next month before heading to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby.

"I always knew he was special," said Werner, who picked out Badge of Silver for $85,000 for owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey at the Keeneland September yearling. "I always knew that he was very fast, how well he stretched out. But to do it the way he did it (in the Risen Star) with a good group of horses, it makes your hair stand up."

Kafwain may be the slight favorite, but Werner thinks his colt might have a home-track advantage. Kafwain makes just his second start outside California.

"Horses are creatures of habit," said Werner. "I feel that if they're on their home base, they have to be more comfortable."