Spectacular Bid in 1979 was the last Derby favorite to win the race.

Easy Goer was considered to be the early Derby favorite on the strength of his last two starts.

Now, though, there is no clear Derby favorite and a full field of 20 seems likely.

Neither of yesterday's winners appears to stack up with the two Derby favorites off their previous form, though both are clearly improving.

Now, somebody hands him the Derby favorite, and he starts murmuring about the pressures of time.

It helps that he is the only Kentucky-bred among the three Derby favorites.

If he does win, the three Derby favorites this year will have a combined record of 29 for 30.

As the year began, Capote was the Derby favorite, but he has not won a race this year.

It was an outstanding race, good enough to make him the Derby favorite in many years.

That race has demoted him from the Derby favorite to a forgotten horse.