Jay GreesonThe Kentucky Derby enters a new phase today.
After almost 40 years without a Triple Crown winner, American Pharoah captured the trifecta last year.
It made horse racing relevant again to folks who do not wear fedoras to work or know the difference between a quinella and a superfecta.
So now the best two minutes in sports returns trying to build on the momentum of last year's dazzling run by the Pharoah.
Can the sport build on it?
In truth, the talent of the Derby winner will dictate that as much as anything.
Here is a look at field, with odds as of Friday. (Final odds will be available today.)
Nyquist is the early favorite (as low as 3-to-1 in some early betting lines) after being crowned last year's 2-year-old champ. Nyquist - way faster than if he had been named NyQuil - is unbeaten in seven starts.
Gun Runner is 10-to-1 and likely will be protested by the insensitive name crowd, although somewhere Oliver North smiles.
Creator is 10-to-1. Exaggerator is 8-to-1 and has four wins in nine career races. Ex-Creator is not entered. Seriously.
My Man Sam is 20-to-1, and you have to think if he was truly someone important's "man" the odds would be better. "You're My Boy Blue" is a better name, but it already has been registered.
Mohaymen has rich bloodlines - he was purchased for more than $2 million as a tot - and is 10-to-1. A win would also allow him to say his name with a purpose. "Yo, Mo Hay, Men, and make it snappy."
Trojan Nation, which is either a shoutout to Southern Cal football or birth control, is 50-to-1.
Oscar Nominated is 50-to-1, which is about as likely a winner as the next Keanu Reeves movie being actually Oscar nominated.
Lani is 30-to-1, and Suddenbreakingnews is 20-to-1. Quick question: Is there another kind of breaking news than sudden? It's like saying someone suddenly died. Of course someone did. One second he or she was alive; the next second the person is dead.
Destin is 15-to-1. Panama City is not entered.
Whitmore is 20-to-1, which is less chance than more.
Tom's Ready is 30-to-1, which begs the question of how long would the odds be if he wasn't ready?
Outwork is 15-to-1 and has a famous daddy in Uncle Mo. Not sure what Al McGuire would say about that. Also, Outwork would be a great name for a plow horse. How about "Outrun" for a racehorse?
Shagaf is 20-to-1 and is the clear front-runner for the strangest name.
Mor Spirit and Brody's Cause each is at 12-to-1. Mor Spirit is more than a cheerleader's battle cry with seven races and no finish worse than second, and he has some name-recognized partners with trainer Bob Baffert and rider Gary Stevens. And as Mickey always asked, "Why? Because we love you."
Danzing Candy is 30-to-1, toothache optional.
Majesto is 20-to-1, and his win would be majestic.
If forced to pick, here's a vote for Gun Runner.
Because even more than a Pharoah, what's more American than a Gun Runner?
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/jgreesontfp.