It played out as a perfectly-timed ride.

Jockey Mario Gutierrez followed the blueprint formed in his mind from intense research and preparation, and the result was a thrilling win by a neck over the gutsy Bodemeister in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes.

Much was made about I’ll Have Another’s “dream” trip in the Kentucky Derby, but his Preakness route was appropriately tailored for a different scenario.

The Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame inductees have been announced and will be honored in the annual ceremony June 7th at the Grand Ballroom at Louisville’s Crowne Plaza Hotel.  The event is opened to the public and tickets run $ 75.00, the revenue generated from the event will be donated to Kosair charities.

This year’s Kentucky Derby is wide open. This is a race in which any of at least 10 horses could win and I wouldn’t be surprised. It’s a race that I’m going to have to throw out competent runners because I can’t bet them all. None of these horses have ever run at the 1 ¼ distance of the Derby and none have ever or will ever face a field of 19 competitors. There are so many variables in the Kentucky Derby that very often the best horse does not win.

Pros: Hansen was three-for-three last year, including his win by a head over Union Rags in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. That race has proven to be a key race, as nine of the 13 starters have won graded stakes at age 3. Hansen’s consistently earned Brisnet speed figures in the 100s or high 90s and he’s never finished worse than second in six lifetime starts.