[Stardust]

What is widely regarded as the deepest Kentucky Derby field in years goes to the post at 6:24 p.m. today at Churchill Downs.

Some years the Derby is tough to decipher because the horses are inconsistent and the guessing game includes whether they will bring their top effort or not. The hallmark of much of this field is that even in defeat, they have run exceedingly well.

“Some really good horses are going to get beat a long way,” said trainer Steve Asmussen, who sends out the stretch-running duo of Sunland Derby winner Daddy Nose Best and Arkansas Derby third-place finisher Sabercat. “I’m so curious to see the chart of this race, because there are so many scenarios or possibilities.”

Headed by champion Hansen, an incredible nine horses — including the top five finishers — from the 13 who contested the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last fall over this same surface return for the 138th Derby. Only 13 of the previous 27 Juvenile winners even made the Derby, with Hansen the first since Street Sense prevailed in 2007.

“Usually people say, ‘Well, this crop might be a little soft,’ ” said trainer Pat Byrne, who hopes jockey Calvin Borel can get his fourth Derby victory in six years with Florida Derby winner Take Charge Indy, the Juvenile’s fifth-place finisher. “But this year’s crop is stellar.”

Then there are the horses who emerged too late to make the Breeders’ Cup: Bodemeister, sensational 9½-length winner of the Arkansas Derby and today’s 4-1 morning-line favorite; Gemologist, the 5-for-5 winner of the Wood Memorial who won twice at Churchill last fall; and Santa Anita Derby winner I’ll Have Another.http://www.courier-journal.com/article/2...ext|Sports