There is no disputing the spring disorder known as Derby Fever.
The symptoms are obvious. They usually include a wealthy thoroughbred owner who wants a good seat and special treatment at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.
Some have more dollars than sense, otherwise you wouldn't have six owners trying to get in Saturday's Kentucky Derby with horses who are eligible for nonwinners of two races. Not all will make the field of 20, thus raining on the parades of some pretenders who were never contenders.
Perhaps Ahmed Zayat, who has had three horses finish second in the Derby, isn't experiencing the fever, but he is attending workouts and news conferences this week along with his son Justin, stable manager for Zayat Stables.
Who wouldn't want to be a part of the American Pharoah party, especially if you bought the horse for $300,000 from yourself. Yes, Zayat put him in the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale and then purchased him.
With more than $1.4 million in earnings it looks like a smart business decision. American Pharoah is regally bred with great thoroughbreds in his bloodline such as Empire Maker, Unbridled, Storm Cat and Pioneer of the Nile, who is also owned by Zayat.
American Pharoah was the easy winner of the Arkansas Derby and most likely will go off as the favorite in Kentucky. So expect Oaklawn Park and Oaklawnanywhere.com to come in second and third among betting sites when it comes to money bet on the 2-year-old champion.
Of course, front and center for the works -- American Pharoah worked a bullet :58.4 for five furlongs Sunday, not always a good thing that close to race day -- is trainer Bob Baffert, who was too busy to make it to Oaklawn for the Arkansas Derby.
History says Baffert and Zayat -- who made his fortune when he sold a beer company to Heiniken for $280 million -- like the Hot Springs track. Bodemeister won the 2012 Arkansas Derby and finished second in the Kentucky Derby.
Mr. Z, owned by Zayat and trained by D. Wayne Lukas, should run and Baffert also trains undefeated Dortmund, who will most likely be the second favorite.
Todd Pletcher is hoping to have four of his horses make Saturday's field. Mubtaahij has never run on American soil but his owner, a sheikh with more names than his horse has victories, paid almost $600,000 for the colt as a yearling.
There are only two undefeated horses who will run, barring injury, with Materiality joining Dortmund in that category. Materiality is a lightly raced but well-bred son of Afleet Alex (2005 Arkansas Derby winner) and will be at the longest price of his career.
Most likely Arkansas Racing Commissioner Mark Lamberth of Batesville will be there, but it won't be because of any fever. He was just elected to the prestigious position of chairman of the Association of Racing Commissioners International.
Between now and Saturday there will be plenty of workouts, news conferences, rumors and innuendo.
There are two key things between now and then.
The first is today's draw. No one wants to get buried down on the rail or draw post position No. 17, from which no horse has won. Apparently the best spots are No. 10 and No. 5 where the most winners have come from.
The second important thing is the weather.
Some purists claim a wet track doesn't matter; some purists are wrong. The forecast calls for a 10 percent chance of rain Friday and no rain Saturday, when the temperature is forecast to be 75 degrees under mostly sunny skies.
That's perfect for Derby fever.
Sports on 04/29/2015