Let’s face it, there are only a few ways a Kentucky Derby field can be described in the days leading up to the race. It is either –

◗ A one-horse show with a definitive favorite who needs only to escape the traps of the anticipated stampede to take his place in history, or …

◗ A mystifying collection of 3-year-olds with thin résumés coming together for a one-shot chance at a glory they soon will squander, or …

◗ A stimulating puzzle with an intriguing top tier of half a dozen or so contenders who have proven their chops by all common metrics.

Two months ago in this space, as a tiny remedy to the unfortunate tradition of the Kentucky Oaks annually being overshadowed by the behemoth that is the Kentucky Derby, yours truly offered a Kentucky Derby-style Oaks Watch.

The idea that Santa Anita Park could be razed and developed into high-end condos, a complex of pan-Eurasian restaurants, and a Pottery Barn franchise has been floating around recently like flies swarming yesterday’s meat.

There is a temptation to simply transcribe and distribute Craig Perret’s reaction to his election to the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame earlier this week. It was that fulsome, so nakedly heartfelt, and with only the slightest trace of regret that he needed 12 appearances on the ballot before the vote finally went his way.

So, because this reporter is easily tempted, here goes:

There was no arguing with the animal rights protesters who flooded the California Horse Racing Board meeting on Thursday with their impassioned recitation of undeniably grim statistics. From their point of view, the business itself is terminally flawed, and no amount of anecdotal testimony to the contrary would convince them otherwise.

Blaine Wright could have been forgiven if his mind had been 2,000 miles away in Kentucky, where his headline horse, Anothertwistafate, was in peaceful repose at Churchill Downs.

An important rule in handicapping is to devalue performances from horses who rode the crest of a strong track bias as those performances were artificially enhanced, and likely are not replicable.

An even more important rule in handicapping is to not be so dogmatic about rules.

Plans for a one-day experiment by members of the Jockeys’ Guild to race without whips on April 12 at Santa Anita Park disappeared into thin air when the Thoroughbred Owners of California promised to work with the riders’ organization in opposition to the proposed whip rule adopted by the California Horse Racing Board at its most recent meeting.

The issue of whip use was raised by The Stronach Group, owners of Santa Anita, in an effort to mollify the volume of outrage that rose in the wake of the alarming rash of equine fatalities that occurred during the first months of the meet.

The view from a shaded bench in the paddock gardens at Santa Anita last Saturday afternoon was enough to set the memories whirling.

Blame it on Laffit Pincay Jr., winner of five Santa Anita Handicaps, who could be found posing for pictures with star-struck fans near a Mt. Rushmore of bronze busts, including the one of Pincay by Nina Kaiser arrayed alongside those of three-time Handicap winner Chris McCarron, four-time winner John Longden, and Bill Shoemaker, who won Santa Anita’s most famous race a ridiculous nine times between 1954 and 1985.

In the view of this corner, Game Winner was the favorite for the Kentucky Derby going into Saturday’s three major final prep races, even though he lost for the first time in his 3-year-old bow when nosed in the second division of the Rebel Stakes. And after Saturday’s preps, and despite the fact that he finished second yet again, in the view of this corner, Game Winner remains the favorite for the Derby, albeit a tepid one.