My initial thought is that this race attracts the interest of the nation's top outfits. (Pletcher, Cox, Asmussen, etc. as well as an annual homecoming trip for the Desormeaux brothers.

This year's edition once again has Bob Baffert's Derby contenders being campaigned by other trainers. To see Harlocap keeping rider Johnny V. but switching trainers to Steve Assmussen's threw me initially.

I expect the winner to develop into one of this year's top 3 y/o's. So I won't go very deep. I expect either a Baffert (3rd stringer) or a Cox trainee to win. Crupi, typical of Curlin's get is developing slowly and steadily. TAP thinking enough of him to take a flyer here persuades me to play him under Harlocap/Victory Formation (both ways) on a trifecta ticket.

I won't ever forget 2003 when Badge Of Silver burst into prominence with a 10-length victory. We've seen enough frontrunners get run down on the FG's seemingly never-ending home stretch, but those races usually aren't Derby preps. Looks to be a good card - dry weather and surface would be nice!