With an unpredictable, entertaining prep season behind us, it's time to get down to the tense business of determining the best 3-year-old thoroughbred in the country on the most sought-after stage in American racing.
There's nothing quite like the Kentucky Derby, with its collision of 20 costly, hope-filled odysseys, all sorted out over two frantic minutes before a bellowing crowd of 150,000-plus.
For decades, the Derby arrived with a fresh set of questions about when, if ever, we'd see the next Triple Crown winner. But trainer Bob Baffert has completed the trick twice in his past four tries, with American Pharoah in 2015 and Justified last year. So we're back to the 1970s, when a devilishly difficult five-week achievement suddenly became almost commonplace.
Is there another modern superstar lurking this time around? As we wait to start finding out May 4, here are five storylines to watch for the 2019 Derby.
