LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A trainer flooding the field with five horses. A black jockey trying to make history, and a woman rider, too. Louisville coach Rick Pitino seeking a double — champions in racing and basketball. Hes sure in the right place. The 19-horse field for Saturdays Kentucky Derby is balanced, with no definitive favourite. Orb is the pre-race choice, just barely. Nearly overshadowed is his trainer, Shug McGaughey, who really, really wants this race. Doug ONeill trying to win back-to-back. And then theres the threat of rain, which has done in some of the best-laid plans on race day. It sure looks like a topsy-turvy Derby. "I dont think weve got Secretariat in this bunch, even Seattle Slew," four-time Derby-winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas said, "so I think its going to boil down to the trip and the pace and a lot of other things." Todd Pletcher will saddle a record-tying five horses — undefeated and early second choice Verrazano, Revolutionary, Overanalyze, Palace Malice and Charming Kitten. "We laid out a plan to get here with them, and its all come down pretty much like we hoped," said Pletcher, who has one Derby win with 31 previous starters. Verrazano is 4-0 in his young career, not having run as a 2-year-old. Hell be trying to disprove an old Derby jinx: no horse since Apollo in 1882 has won without racing as a juvenile. Relative unknown Kevin Krigger will be aboard Goldencents, trying to become the first black jockey to win since Jimmy Winkfield in 1902. "Im going to ride us the race that should get us to the Kentucky Derby winners circle," Krigger said. The colt is partly owned by Pitino, whose Cardinals won the NCAA championship last month. The coach recently got elected to basketballs Hall of Fame, so a Derby win would complete the ultimate trifecta. Rosie Napravnik wants to grab history for herself, too. No female jockey has ever won the Derby, although she came closest, with a ninth-place finish in 2011. Napravnik will ride 15-1 long shot Mylute. "He feels great, hes acting great and Im very confident heading into the Derby," she said. Orb was the narrow 7-2 early favourite for the 139th Derby. He comes in on a four-race winning streak for McGaughey, the 62-year-old trainer whose Hall of Fame resume lacks a Derby victory. Hes making his second appearance since 1989, when he finished second with Easy Goer. "I hope the track is fast and safe for everybody and nobody has any excuses, and let the best horse win," McGaughey said. Goldencents will be trying to deliver for more than Krigger and Pitino. Hes trained by ONeill, who put unknown Mario Gutierrez aboard Ill Have Another last year and won. The trainer is following the same script this time, giving Krigger a big break while trying to become the first trainer to win back-to-back Derbies since Bob Baffert in 1997-98. "We think it is our time," ONeill said. "We think it is us." Dont look for the white-haired Baffert on Saturday. The three-time Derby winner isnt saddling a horse this year, but like everyone, he had an opinion. "Whoever has the heart will win it," he said. The forecast calls for an 80 per cent chance of rain and a high of 59 degrees. The last Derby run on a sloppy track was in 2010. "Itll make the Derby that much more wide open," said trainer Ken McPeek, who has two starters, Frac Daddy and Javas War. Javas War and Golden Soul are Canadian-bred and owned by 66-year-old Edmonton native Charles Fipke. Lukas has two horses — Oxbow and Will Take Charge — ready for his 27th Derby. The four-time winning trainer planned to sleep soundly the night before. "I dont get uptight, dont even get excited when they go in the gate," he said. At 77, Lukas would be the oldest trainer to win. Oxbows jockey, Gary Stevens, will be pulling double-duty Saturday. Hell ride in his first Derby since ending a seven-year retirement earlier this year, and then return to his job as a racing analyst on NBCs telecast. The 50-year-old rider has won the race three times. "You go out there with the highest hopes," he said. "Ive walked back too many times after the Kentucky Derby and its a disappointment if they dont run their race. If were fortunate enough to win it, I know how to celebrate." Calvin Borel is one jockey always worth watching in the Derby. He and Revolutionary will break from the No. 3 spot in the starting gate, putting Borel near his favourite path on the track — the rail. The rider nicknamed "Bo-rail" for his fence-skimming rides has three Derby wins in the last six years. "This is his home court," Lukas said. "He does better here than anywhere else." Normandy Invasion can count on his own rooting section among the expected throngs at Churchill Downs. The colt named for the Allied assault on Normandy in World War II has four D-Day veterans backing him. They were flown in for the race by owner Rick Porter, and met the colt up close on Friday. Cheap Old Skool China . Reassurance came from Paul Tesori, his caddie and close friend whose newborn son is in intensive care in a Florida hospital. "Paul sent me a text this morning, just told me he loved me and wanted to go out and fight as hard as I would any other day," Simpson said Sunday after doing just that. Cheap Old Skool . The Oilers come in having lost five in a row (0-4-1) and 16 of their last 20 games, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. http://www.cheapoldskoolchina.com/ . The team said Saturday that Lopez was hurt during its 121-120 overtime loss at Philadelphia on Friday. The Nets said they would issue another update next week after consultation with their doctors. Old Skool Clearance . PAUL, Minn. Discount Old Skool . The team also announced Tuesday that the Braves will wear a commemorative patch on the right sleeve during the season. The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner. All Blacks coach Steve Hansen believes his sides two Tests against Ireland will benefit them in the long run ahead of next years British and Irish Lions Tour.New Zealand went through 2016 largely untested with comfortable wins over Wales, Australia, South Africa and Argentina before Joe Schmidts Ireland halted the All Blacks record breaking run with a remarkable 40-29 win in Chicago.Ireland provided another stern challenge on Saturday in Dublin, but couldnt go back to back as New Zealand got their revenge 9-21 at the Aviva Stadium.Northern Hemisphere rugby is different to Southern Hemisphere, its a lot more non-compromising and physical, and very much a hard grind up front, Hansen said as his side headed for Paris for the All Blacks final Test of 2016 against France.The environment causes that, its not always nice and dry and theres a bit of snow about occasionally, it creates a different animal and a different beasst.ddddddddddddThe games arent as free-flowing, youve got to grind them out and its been good for this group to go through some of that and feel what that feels like, and then find an answer for it.?If you have a bad day you are going get hurt. Ireland, England and France are good sides. Wales on their day can hurt you and Scotland have already shown what they can do.I dont think its told us anything we didnt already know (re the Lions series). Its going to be a hell of a battle.You combine four teams with all the talent thats up here and theyre going to come at you with some heavy artillery and we will have to fire up and get the job done ourselves.The British and Irish Lions are going to be a really good side, probably one of the best sides theyve ever sent down. Looking forward to it. ' ' '