Kentucky Derby Trail: Derby ProMo

It is now 2011 and that means we have officially embarked on the Kentucky Derby trail. Here in the East it’s been difficult to see even the slightest hint of rose blossoms buried beneath 20-30 inches of snow drifts. But, heck, they’ve already run the first Derby prep (the Count Fleet Stakes at Aqueduct), and Florida and California will soon follow suit, so you know the trail has begun, regardless of whether you tread upon it in snow boots or sandals.

This year will be a bit different from other years, because the magical name “Kentucky Derby,” that normally stands on its own, has had to share top billing with that glorious, yet cursed phrase, “Triple Crown.” Instead of each step on the Derby Trail being examined with a magnifying glass, it is apparent that many racing fans are already looking ahead with a telescope, beyond the Derby and beyond the Preakness...