LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It was a tumultuous winter in Southern California, but if two noted oddsmakers are correct, the public will deem the first four choices in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday colts who did the bulk of their training out there.

Omaha Beach was installed as the Derby favorite, with the Bob Baffert-trained trio of Game Winner, Improbable, and Roadster holding the next three spots, when Daily Racing Form’s Mike Watchmaker and Mike Battaglia of Churchill Downs set their lines following the draw for posts on Tuesday at Churchill Downs.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Japanese invader Master Fencer is a mystery horse for handicappers in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, though he is now less of an uncertainty to his jockey, Julien Leparoux, after he became acquainted with the colt during training on Tuesday at Churchill Downs.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The heavy lifting is now over for the 22 horses still under consideration for this year’s Kentucky Derby, with the final major works turned in at both Churchill Downs and in South Florida on Monday morning.

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 of the greatest victories in the Hall of Fame career of Steve Asmussen have come in the Kentucky Oaks, with Summerly (2005) and Untapable (2014). Asmussen believes he merits a good chance at a third Oaks triumph Friday when he sends out Lady Apple off three straight victories at Oaklawn Park, the latest in the Grade 3 Fantasy.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Jockey Flavien Prat piloted both Omaha Beach and Gray Magician to their maiden victories. Prat will now get experience with a third horse in this year’s Kentucky Derby, as he picks up the mount on Country House for what will be his third Derby ride.

Country House, who is trained by Bill Mott, finished second in the Risen Star and fourth in the Louisiana Derby with Luis Saez up, then was third in the Arkansas Derby under Joel Rosario.

LOUISVILLE, K.y. – A victory in the Kentucky Derby would be an early birthday present for a few of this year’s starters.

LOUISVILLE, K.y. – Mark Casse had always intended to step up the intensity of War of Will’s training between the Louisiana Derby, his final prep on March 23, and the Kentucky Derby 42 days later. But after what transpired in the Louisiana Derby, War of Will’s subsequent training took on even greater importance.

The Lecomte and Risen Star winner, War of Will lost his action shortly after the start of the race and never got involved, finishing ninth. Casse theorized that the colt caught his patella at the start.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – But for a desperate lunge and the bob of a nose, Mike Trombetta wouldn’t even be here at Churchill Downs this week.

“I’d be back home in Maryland getting this horse ready for the Preakness,” said the 52-year-old trainer of Kentucky Derby starter Win Win Win.

Lani was a bit of a circus sideshow, Epicharis a pre-race casualty. Those are the last two Japan-based horses to travel to America for a Triple Crown race. The latest voyager, Master Fencer, has so far kept a lower profile.