Arkansas Derby

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - I do not think this Kentucky Derby is all that complicated. With a few exceptions, there are far more knowns than unknowns with these 20 horses. It is not difficult to envision how this race will be run and which horses might be hindered or helped by the pace scenario. The running styles are self-evident. The race has all types with talent from the front to the back. The Breeders' Cup Juvenile form has held for 6 months. Three horses who did not run on Nov. 5 have forced themselves into the conversation.

The 2012 Kentucky Derby will have more consistent, talented 3-year-olds in the starting gate on May 5 than any Derby in years. An incredible nine of the 14 horses that ran in the 2011 Breeders' Cup Juvenile have won 2012 stakes races. And three horses that did not even run in the Juvenile, the super fast Bodemeister, unbeaten Gemologist and Santa Anita Derby winner I'll Have Another, will all be taking major action at the betting windows. Union Rags, the horse with all the Pennsylvania connections, may not have won his most recent start.

Hansen blew his chance to be a Kentucky Derby favorite, finishing second in the Blue Grass Stakes after a daylong art project in which the near-white colt's tail was dyed blue, only to be rinsed off before the race. After being beaten by Dullahan on the final weekend of major Derby preps, Hansen has been replaced by Union Rags at No. 1 on the AP's latest Run to the Roses' Top 10 list of contenders. Union Rags regained the top spot he held for most of the prep season before his third-place finish after a tough trip in the Florida Derby on March 31. Hansen, sent off as the 6-5 favorite in the 13-horse field, took the lead as expected but faded in the stretch as Dullahan rallied for a 11/4-length win over the synthetic Polytrack at Keeneland.

Derby fever is springing up all over. Owner Kendall Hansen has it now, saying he "can hardly work" as he counts down the week before his horse named Hansen runs in the Kentucky Derby on May 5. First, Hansen has one more prep race, and that's the Blue Grass Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland, about a 90-minute drive from Louisville. The near-white colt will be facing about a dozen rivals on the synthetic Polytrack, including fellow Derby hopefuls Dullahan and Howe Great. While Hansen remains No. 1 in the Associated Press' latest Run to the Roses' Top 10, Gemologist affirmed his No. 2 status ahead of No. 3 Union Rags with a hard-fought win in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on Saturday.

ABOUT THE RACE When: Tomorrow, 6:24 p.m. post time (Race 11) Where: Churchill Downs, Louisville, Ky. TV: NBC, beginning at 4 p.m. (Versus has undercard starting at 11 a.m.) Wagering Info: 1-888-BET-2-WIN or www.phonebet.com Distance: 1 1/4 miles. Weights: 126 pounds. Weather: Temperatures in the 60s with a 50 percent chance of rain during the day. Purse: $2,196,800 (if 20 start). First place: $1,436,800. Second place: $400,000. Third place: $200,000.

Brilliant Speed punched his ticket for the Kentucky Derby with a thrilling stretch run to win the $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky. The 3-year-old colt lagged behind the rest of the 12-horse field until the turn, then exploded over the final quarter-mile to edge Twinspired by a nose. The $450,000 winner's check gives Brilliant Speed more than enough graded-stakes earnings to earn a spot in next month's Run for the Roses. Ridden by Joel Rosario and trained by Tom Albertrani, Brilliant Speed covered the 11/8 miles on Keeneland's Polytrack in 1 minute, 50.92 seconds and paid $40.20, $20.80, and $13. Twinspired and jockey Robby Albarado paid $21.20 and $11.80 for second, while King Congie paid $8.80 for third.

As Uncle Mo was finishing third in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct over the weekend, race caller Tom Durkin exclaimed: "And the Kentucky Derby is up for grabs!" It sure is. With Uncle Mo losing for the first time, there's a new No. 1 in the Associated Press' latest Run to the Roses top 10 list of Derby contenders: The Factor. The speedy 3-year-old gray colt moves up from No. 3 and could wind up as the Derby favorite May 7 if he wins the $1 million Arkansas Derby on Saturday. The Factor has won his last three starts going wire-to-wire.

Preakness Analysis Here's a look at the field for Saturday's $1-million Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. The second leg of the Triple Crown will be run at 1 3/16 miles. Post time is 6:12 p.m. and will be televised on NBC10.   1. Aikenite                         Javier Castellano           Todd Pletcher                 20-1 Despite having only a maiden win first time out last summer at Saratoga, he has run in four Grade I stakes, facing many of these along the way. Will be stalking and no doubt be a big price.