Tom Law

Nearly two months remained until the Kentucky Derby 144 and Bob Baffert compared his predicament with the leading classic candidates in the barn to that of the man who won his sixth college football national championship just a few weeks before.

Five months before he hoisted the Kentucky Oaks and a month before Monomoy Girl made her debut at Indiana Grand of all places, Brad Cox took a minute from his day during the break at Saratoga to answer the question of what it would be like for a kid from Louisville who dreamt about the biggest races at Churchill Downs and winning one.

One big day in the books and one massive one to go with the 144th Kentucky Derby set for Saturday at Churchill Downs.

The day everyone’s been waiting for is here and the Kentucky Derby, America’s greatest horse race and one of the world’s most sought-after prizes, goes down for the 144th time Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Aidan O’Brien stepped out of Barn 17 on the Churchill Downs backstretch at little before 7 a.m. Friday, following his four Ballydoyle charges to the racetrack and scouted out a good spot to watch Mendelssohn turn in his last bit of work before Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.

Weather watchers and handicappers will be out in force Friday, keeping an eye on how things unfold for the 144th running of the Kentucky Oaks and a strong supporting stakes program at Churchill Downs.

Mendelssohn always makes his presence felt – screaming, roaring, occasionally even studish – to and from the racetrack and in case anyone missed him Thursday morning at Churchill Downs the large crowd of onlookers to see the Irish raider made him a dead giveaway.

Obstacles are everywhere this week at Churchill Downs. A stroll through the barn area just after sun up Wednesday morning revealed plenty – cars, golf carts, occasional people on bicycles, plenty more folks on foot, cats and even chickens dot the expanse of asphalt, concrete, cinderblock, wood and dirt.

Mendelssohn touched down in Louisville Monday evening, returning to his native state where he’ll bid to become the first European winner of the Kentucky Derby and add another major prize to his late sire’s glistening resume.

Bob Baffert missed the early part of Tuesday’s post-position draw for the 144th Kentucky Derby, caught in the labyrinth of the new parking setup outside Churchill Downs. The four-time Derby winner needn’t worry too much though, it was left to fate and the odds went in his favor when morning-line favorite Justify drew a favorable spot toward the middle of the field of 20.