It's just two weeks until the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby, the most famous two minutes in sports. You know that means... $1000 Mint Juleps!
... Fancy Hats! ... Dan Fogelberg on a endless loop! ... A.C. Slater in a white suit!

But, yes, among all that fantastic pageantry, there's the business of the race itself. Twenty 3-year olds will run against more horses than they will ever face again in their career, at a distance longer than any have ever run. It's the race that everybody who's anybody in the world of horse racing wants to win, the race that people who know nothing about horses know about. There are richer races, there are older races, but there's only one Kentucky Derby.

For most of the Spring, the big story has been Uncle Mo, the champion two year-old and winner of last November's Breeder's Cup Juvenile. The talented son of Indian Charlie was hailed as racing's next great hope at a Triple Crown winner, a gap that stretches back to Affirmed in 1978. He entered April 9's Wood Memorial as a heavy favorite for the Derby, and an even heavier favorite for the Wood itself. But the racing gods can be a fickle lot, and Toby's Corner posted the shocking upset. The Uncle Mo naysayers were quick to voice a multitude of reasons for the loss --- questionable training, questionable pedigree, injury. However, his supporters are quick to point out that Secretariat's path to the Triple Crown in 1973 started with a loss in the Wood Memorial too. In any event, Uncle Mo will almost assuredly not enter the starting gate in Louisville as a favorite.

Uncle Mo's loss was supposed to be The Factor's gain. That speedy colt entered last Saturday's Arkansas Derby off three consecutive wire-to-wire victories, but placed a non-threatening seventh, further muddying an already unclear Derby picture. The race was won by 26-1 longshot Archacharch, but it's the fast-closing second place finisher Nehro that is being hailed as the top Derby contender from that race.

The status of favorite now likely is assumed by Florida Derby winner Dialed In, with whom Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito hopes to find the Derby winner circle for a third time. The lightly-raced son of Mineshaft has won three of four lifetime starts is well-bred to get the Derby distance, and already has a win over the Churchill Downs dirt.

An interesting horse to keep an eye on is the European shipper Master Of Hounds. He was dazzling in his runner-up finish at the UAE Derby in Dubai in March, and has that feel of a "wiseguy" horse. Still, no horse has won the Derby by either prepping exclusively overseas, or with only one prep as a three year-old, and will have to overcome those historical trends, if he is to wear the garland of roses in two weeks.

A complete list of Derby contenders can be found here. Starters are limited to the top 20 in graded stakes earnings, with more than 20 horses still pointing for the Derby. Tomorrow's Lexington Stakes at Keeneland presents the last real opportunity for Derby hopefuls to pick up those earnings, and Silver Medallion will attempt to do just that.

See ya Derby Week!