A number of new faces will try to get theirs told on May 6

Despite the heightened interest in racing inspired by the Triple Crown events, spring is usually a slow time for the sport. The busy summer racing schedule is a few months away, and the hectic yearling sales season is even further off.

The Kentucky Derby (G1) is advantaged by its position on the calendar. It does not have a lot of competition for attention, and, hey, everyone feels good in the spring.

The most recent renewals of the Derby, however, have seemed rather monotonous. That is to say, three trainers-Bob Baffert, D. Wayne Lukas, and Nick Zito-have dominated the event. In the 1990s, those three saddled seven winners of the Derby. The only three trainers to break that hold were Carl Nafzger with Unbridled in 1990, Lynn Whiting with Lil E. Tee in 1992, and MacKenzie Miller with Sea Hero in 1993.

This year, the big three will again have a strong saying in the outcome of the race. Baffert brings in Captain Steve, Lukas has High Yield and maybe Exchange Rate, while Zito will be represented by Rollin With Nolan.

That is not a bad bunch, and High Yield will be one of the favorites going into the starting gate for the Derby. But it is not as strong a hand as those three have had in the past, though one might have said that last year about Lukas and Charismatic.

This year's race brings the promise of some new faces, new stories, and new angles to fans.

For example, Neil Drysdale will have his first Derby starter ever if everything goes according to plan. A Racing Hall of Fame nominee this year, Drysdale will be represented by likely post-time favorite Fusaichi Pegasus and once-defeated War Chant. The only time Drysdale brought a horse to the Derby, he had one of the favorites, A.P. Indy, but was forced to scratch the colt the morning of the race due to a quarter crack. A great training job by Drysdale got him back to the races in time to win the Belmont Stakes (G1) en route to an eventual Horse of the Year title.

Drysdale is known for his patience and has previously fought the temptation of running a horse in the Derby until he has the right one. He has the right one this year in Fusaichi Pegasus, but that colt's talent will be tested by his inexperience on Derby day.

The 126th Derby will also bring into the spotlight the rising star of Todd Pletcher. A protege of Lukas, Pletcher is just 32 years old and may have four starters in this year's race-More Than Ready, Graeme Hall, Trippi, and Impeachment. That would be a marvelous accomplishment for any trainer and indicates what can be expected of Pletcher in the future. (He still would be one-upped by Lukas, who had five starters in the 1996 Derby.)

Trainer Jenine Sahadi will try to become the first woman to win the Derby when she sends out The Deputy (Ire) on May 6. Sahadi will be just the ninth woman to saddle a Derby starter. The eight before her saddled nine total starters, with Shelley Riley finishing second with Casual Lies in 1992. Next-best finish was Patti Johnson with 1985 Derby fourth Fast Account. First woman to saddle a Derby starter was Mary Hirsch, daughter of Racing Hall of Fame trainer Max Hirsch, in 1937. The aptly named No Sir finished 13th.

Then, there is Harold Rose and Hal's Hope. The 88-year-old trainer bred and owns the colt with his wife, Elsie. Last year, Harold recovered from quadruple heart bypass surgery so quickly because he felt he had a Derby horse in his barn. He was right. Hal's Hope won the Florida Derby (G1) and will try to complete the dream by winning the Kentucky Derby.

There are other good stories resonating through the backstretch at Churchill Downs on Derby day. Pick one you like, go to the windows on the first Saturday in May, and hope they are telling the story you bought after the race.