ShareThisHere are five top contenders to watch in Saturday's 134th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.-- 1. Big BrownCan the favorite deliver? Named for the co-owner's UPS contract, the Florida Derby winner is undefeated but untested -- much like 2006 Derby winner Barbaro. Breaking from post No. 20, he'll try to lead every step. Only one horse has won from that post: Clyde Van Dusen in 1929.Opening line odds: 3:1.-- 2. Colonel JohnOn the march from California. A son of two-time Breeders' Cup Classic winner Tiznow, the Santa Anita Derby winner looks and runs like his sire, the all-time richest California-born thoroughbred. But this colt has never raced on dirt; his four wins have come on synthetic surfaces.Opening line odds: 4:1.-- 3. PyroBounce-back candidate. Until three weeks ago, the Louisiana Derby winner was the expected Derby favorite. But a sluggish 10th-place finish in the Blue Grass Stakes burned Pyro's backers. Did he peak too soon or hate Keeneland's Polytrack? Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan tries to become the first black rider to win the Derby since 1902.Opening line odds: 6:1.-- 4. Eight BellesFilly power against the boys. Trying to become the fourth filly to win the Derby, she's the first to attempt it since 1999. She shares the same gray/roan color as the last filly Derby champion (Winning Colors, 1988) but will have to close from off the pace.Opening line odds: 20:1.-- 5. Bob Black JackSpeed to burn. After setting a world record for six furlongs (1:06.53) at Santa Anita, this $4,500 bargain colt will try to become the fourth California-bred (and first since 1962) to win the Derby by pushing Big Brown on the lead. Bob Black Jack finished second to Colonel John in the Santa Anita Derby.Opening line odds: 20:1.(Contact Debbie Arrington at darrington@sacbee.com.)(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
Five horses to watch in the Kentucky Derby
Paying taxes unites us. It also divides us. People can pay five and even six times more in state and local taxes than other folks in similar circumstances making similar incomes.
Who's got your number?
In one of the fastest-growing forms of identity theft, crooks are stealing tax refunds by swiping personal information and using it to trick the Internal Revenue Service.
