Just hitting the Kentucky Derby superfecta for an incredible $864,253 for a $1 investment is amazing enough, but Christopher Hertzog had to hit it twice.

That's because the Turf Paradise patron inadvertently threw away his winning ticket. Fortunately, before Hertzog could find a bridge, the ticket was found at Turf Paradise Sunday.

"I never knew I had so many emotions," said Hertzog, 39, a 16-year veteran of the Phoenix Fire Department. "I couldn't believe I lost this once in a lifetime payday. It's unbelievable that it was found."

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A number of horses who competed in the on Saturday at Churchill Downs, including the race's first three finishers, are all likely to move on to the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, on May 21 at Pimlico Race Course.

Giacomo, Closing Argument, and Afleet Alex were the first three across the line in the 131st Derby, and are expected to meet again in the 130th Preakness. Afleet Alex will be the first to arrive at Pimlico. He is scheduled to travel to Baltimore on Wednesday.

Wilko, who finished sixth, is also likely for the Preakness.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - One of trainer Nick Zito's pet sayings is, "Great expectations bring great disappointment."

Expectations were never greater for Zito than in Saturday's 131st Kentucky Derby when he ran five horses, including the 5-2 favorite, Bellamy Road. Alas, disappointment was never greater as none of Zito's five runners hit the board. Bellamy Road trudged home seventh, about seven lengths behind longshot winner Giacomo.

Zito's other runners were Andromeda's Hero (8th), High Fly (10th), Noble Causeway (14th), and Sun King (15th).

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Jerry Moss has another hit.

The successful record producer went to the top of the charts on Saturday at Churchill Downs when Giacomo, the colt he owns with his wife, Ann, came from far back under jockey Mike Smith to score a 50-1 upset in the 131st .

The victory was sweet vindication for trainer John Shirreffs, who never gave up on Giacomo despite his below-par efforts this spring at Santa Anita, and for Smith, whose biggest disappointment came aboard Giacomo's sire, Holy Bull, who finished 12th as the favorite in the 1994 Derby.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - You don't have to be rich to own a Kentucky Derby runner. But it helps.

There are feel-good stories surrounding the Derby every year, like the 10 high school buddies who pooled their money and came up with Funny Cide, or the elderly car dealer who bred and owned Smarty Jones. This year, five horseplaying friends from Philadelphia were here at Churchill Downs with Afleet Alex, whom they bought for $75,000 last year.

But the majority of the runners in this year's race are owned by people of great wealth.

Click on a horse name for its pedigree profile, strengths and weaknesses.

:: (Pdf)

:: (Pdf)

:: (Pdf)

:: (Pdf)

:: (Pdf)

:: (Pdf)

:: (Pdf)

:: (Pdf)

:: (Pdf)

:: (Pdf)

:: (Pdf)

:: (Pdf)

:: (Pdf)

:: (Pdf)

When he crushed the Wood Memorial by more than 17 lengths while earning a colossal 120 Beyer Speed Figure, Bellamy Road did more than seize the role of Kentucky Derby favorite. The performance also stamped him as a potential freak. Aside from low odds and an abbreviated two-start spring campaign, he enters with many attributes.

WASHINGTON - Most racing fans spend many hours studying the horses in the Kentucky Derby, but they can make the mistake of analyzing the race too much. Over the years I have often been guilty of this error, failing to pick standout winners such as Secretariat, Affirmed, and Seattle Slew. It is easy to become obsessed by nuances and lose sight of the big question: Is there a horse in the field with such superior talent that the nuances are irrelevant?

That may indeed be the case in the 131st Derby. Bellamy Road could very well be in a class by himself.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Will he or won't he? That is the question surrounding Bellamy Road, the solid favorite in the 131st on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Will he run back to his crushing victory four weeks ago in the Wood Memorial, which he won by 17 1/2 lengths while earning a stratospheric Beyer Speed Figure of 120?

"If that's the performance he brings to the Derby, we all might be running for second," said jockey Jerry Bailey, who rides High Fly.

NEW YORK - In many years, handicapping the Kentucky Derby is an exercise in uncovering subtleties, hunting for small nuances and overlooked virtues in hopes of discovering a 20-1 shot who is as plausible as some overrated favorites.