Get Smarty

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Wide open. Probably wet. Definitely wild.

That's how the Kentucky Derby is shaping up, even though Wimbledon and St Averil were scratched with injuries Friday and trainer Bob Baffert, a three-time winner, won't be around for all the fun.

"This is part of the business you never get used to," said Baffert, who hasn't missed the race since sending out his first starter in 1996.

The latest twists in this wacky Derby reduced a full field of 20 to 18, altered nearly half the post positions, and brightened the prospects of mudders like Imperialism, Pollard's Vision and the undefeated Smarty Jones.

"Smarty's run in the mud and run well," said trainer John Servis, referring to a victory in the Arkansas Derby that kept the colt unbeaten in six races. "I don't love it, but it doesn't bother me."

There's a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms by today's post time of 5:04 p.m. With 18 starters, the Derby purse is $1,154,800, with the winner's share $854,800.

And if it does pour, those corporate logos that jockeys won the right to wear on their silks will be tough to spot when they're splattered with mud.

Jerry Bailey may not be around at all. The top rider in the game was supposed to be aboard Wimbledon, but his agent was scrambling to find a trainer willing to change riders.

"It's disappointing," Bailey said. "Guess I'll have to hang around another year."

So will D. Wayne Lukas, a four-time Derby winner, who doesn't have a starter in the race. His absence and Baffert's is in itself a Derby footnote: Not since 1980 has a Derby been run without a horse trained by either.

However, there is no shortage of story lines for this race perhaps because it's been such a confusing prep season. Nothing illustrated that better than the fate of trainer Nick Zito's two entries.

The Cliff's Edge became the 4-1 early favorite based on his Blue Grass win and 2-for-2 record at Churchill Downs, but he was Zito's third-stringer when the year began. Birdstone, the longest shot in the field at 50-1, started out as his top prospect, but was sidetracked with a blood ailment.

"History will repeat that the 130th Kentucky Derby had an up-and-down year with horses," said Zito, now the only Derby-winning trainer in the race.

Smarty Jones, though, has been perfect so far. The smallish chestnut is the 9-2 second choice, but he's the darling of this Derby because of his tale:

He's a Pennsylvania bred who nearly died when he slammed his head on an iron bar. His trainer and jockey Stewart Elliott are based at small-time Philly Park. His owners Pat and Roy Chapman refused a blank check for the horse. But now they can collect a $5 million bonus if Smarty completes a sweep of the Rebel Stakes, the Arkansas Derby and the Kentucky Derby.

"To be part of this story,"Pat Chapman said, "is just unbelievable."

Still, this 1 1/4-mile Derby is more than just Smarty's party.

Kristin Mulhall, the 21-year-old trainer of Imperialism, will attempt to become the first female trainer -- and youngest trainer, period -- to win. Imperialism, with two-time Derby winner Kent Desormeaux in the saddle, also has a win over a muddy track. The colt is 15-1.

Michael Dickinson, dubbed racing's "Mad Genius" because of his unique training style, will saddle his first starter in Tapit, a snowy gray colt coming off a win in the Wood Memorial. Ridden by Ramon Dominguez, the colt is the 8-1 third choice.

"He will definitely improve," said Dickinson, who trains at his 200-acre Tapeta Farm in Maryland. "He'll improve a few lengths. I've got a lot of confidence in his ability."

New York breds will be present again in Florida Derby winner Friends Lake and Fountain of Youth winner Read the Footnotes. Last year, Funny Cide became the first New York bred to win.

Bobby Frankel has been quiet all week about Master David, the Wood runner-up who might be ready to give the Hall of Fame trainer his first Derby win. Last year, Frankel's heavily favored Empire Maker finished second after a hectic week of media attention.

"I wouldn't be surprised if Master David won, and I wouldn't be surprised if he finished fifth or sixth," Frankel said. "I've got a chance, just like a lot of horses."

Frankel loves The Cliff's Edge, and also says speed demon Lion Heart could go wire-to-wire the same way War Emblem did two years ago.

"We don't know the scenario, how the race is going to be run," Frankel said. "I can see Lion Heart loose on the lead and winning. I can see Smarty Jones laying right off Lion Heart, pressing each other and finishing 1-2."

And if it rains?

"Then throw out all the odds," Frankel said.

Some bettors already have. As Zito predicted after Wednesday's post position draw: "This probably will be the best betting Derby ever."