Weekend watchdog

The first Saturday in May looms. As does only horse race most Americans know.

The Kentucky Derby takes the stage late Saturday afternoon, with 20 horses vying for the first Triple Crown since 1978. Two minutes after the race starts, only one will have a chance to join the great horses of the past.

If you like to watch the fillies, the Kentucky Oaks will be held Friday at 5 p.m. on Bravo.

For more speed on an oval, NASCAR brings its horsepower to Richmond. FOX has the Sprint Cup race Saturday at 7:30 p.m. after the Nationwide crew goes Friday at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.

Also, the IRL will be in Kansas Saturday on ABC.

The NHL goes into its second round this weekend and Friday on Versus Pittsburgh starts its series against Montreal.

NBC has a pair of games set for the weekend - the Flyers-Bruins Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and Montreal at Pittsburgh Sunday at 2 p.m.

Versus has the first game of Vancouver-Chicago Saturday at 8 p.m., then Game 2 from San Jose Sunday at 8 p.m.

The NBA playoffs continue Friday on ESPN, as the Hawks face the Bucks at 7 p.m., then the Lakers try to win at Oklahoma City at 9:30 p.m. The Nuggets hope to stay alive in Utah at 10 p.m. on ESPN2.

The conference semifinals begin Saturday when the Celtics visit Cleveland on TNT. Time will be announced closer to tipoff, along with other games on the weekend.

The Orioles host Boston this weekend on MASN, while the Nationals visit Florida on MASN2.

The Mets and Phillies get national coverage twice this weekend, on FOX Saturday afternoon and Sunday night on ESPN. The other choices on FOX will be Astros-Braves and Rangers-Mariners. The White Sox visit the Yankees Sunday afternoon on TBS.

Tiger Woods and the PGA tour will be in Charlotte this weekend. CBS has coverage at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The D.C. United host the Red Bulls Saturday at 4 p.m. on Comcast.

Comcast brings you college baseball throughout the weekend. Friday, it's LSU vs. Florida at 8 p.m. Saturday, it's ACC play between Georgia Tech and North Carolina State at 1 p.m., then off to the SEC for Georgia-Vanderbilt at 7 p.m. Sunday, there's more SEC play with Mississippi and Mississippi State at 2:30 p.m.

ESPN joins the diamond fun, showing LSU-Florida Sunday at 1 p.m.

ESPN has some Southeastern Conference softball on the schedule, with Georgia-LSU Thursday at 8 p.m. and Tennessee-Alabama Saturday.

MASN offers college lacrosse Saturday at 2 p.m. when Bellarmine faces Ohio State.

ESPN2 continues showing spring college football, featuring Oregon Saturday at 5 p.m.