I went back to look to make sure - it was Feb 13th of last year when I posted that there were only 7 horses who had any chance at winning the Derby.
They being:
Any Given Saturday
Hard Spun
Nobiz Like Shobiz
Street Sense
Ravel
Adore the Gold
Great Hunter
With today Feb 1st of 2008 - I can honestly say that I think there are probably over a hundred horses - maybe as many as 150 or 175 horses - who right now couldn't be ruled out as possible Derby winners.
If I had to assign someone the most likely Derby winner - it would be Pyro - who just so happens to be the future book favorite last I looked - and just so happens to be a nose away from being winless in his career.
You REALLY get the feeling that there is a very good lightly raced dirt horse out in California....but with those surfaces there, you can't project with any kind of exactitude who it might be.
It's pretty interesting to think how all but a small handfull of horses at about this time last year were impossible prospects for the Derby - and this year - just about anything with four hooves, a tail, and a pulse can't totally be ruled out.
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