Three stand out in Derby field

The 123rd Kentucky Derby on May 3 will be something to behold.

Pulpit, a Kentucky-bred speedster who racesnear the lead, and Captain Bodgit, a great stretch runner with afront left leg that would keep him out of any chorus line because ofits bad bend, rate as co-favorites at probably 5-2. Give or take afew dimes here and there.

As good as they are, though, they'll have to contend withCrypto Star, a great stretch runner. He has won four of six starts,including two Grade I stakes: the $500,000 Louisiana Derby in NewOrleans and last week's $500,000 Arkansas Derby.But this Derby doesn't have great horses in it such asCount Fleet, Exterminator, Seattle Slew, Secretariat, Whirlaway,Count Fleet, Northern Dancer and other past winners.Pulpit is dangerous because he has fine speed and his sireis A.P. Indy, who won the Santa Anita Derby, Belmont Stakes andBreeders' Cup Classic in 1992. Pulpit won four of five starts, andthe fact that he's improving also gives him a high rating.But there is some doubt as to whether he can win at the 11/4-mile Derby distance. Don't hold me to this, but when Pulpit madehis first start at Gulfstream Park, I figured he's my Kentucky Derbypick. But lately, I'm weakening on his chances because he hasn'tindicated he'll enjoy the Derby distance. He may tire. Then againhe may not because he's back home in Kentucky.So where do we go from there? Captain Bodgit, who ran pastPulpit in the Florida Derby like he was standing still, is a powerfulthreat. A syndicate headed by Barry Irwin bought Captain Bodgit for$500,000 even with the suspicious leg.The syndicate won the Florida Derby and the Wood Memorial,which more than paid for his price. Captain Bodgit is a runningfool.The horse fanciers in Illinois should root for Crypto Starbecause the owners - Darrell Yates and his wife, Evelyn - are fromBethalto, Ill., just a 4 1/2-hour car ride from Arlington,Sportsman's Park and Hawthorne. Philip Teinowitz and Hargus andSandra Sexton, who bred Crypto Star, sold him to the Yates for only$100,000.The Yates rejected an offer of $3 million from a horseowner, maybe in a syndicate, for Crypto Star."My wife, Evelyn, and I love the colt, think he's going to be atop horse this year and maybe also next, so we turned down the fineoffer," Yates said."It's a lot of money, but I think he'll win the Kentucky Derby.He's a top colt who just loves to run.""We've got a great colt," said Wayne Catalano, a former jockeyand the trainer of Crypto Star. "He enjoys running, and I reallybelieve he'll win the Derby."His jockey, Pat Day, thinks the world of him: "Crypto is agreat stretch runner."Along with his four wins, Crypto Star has a second and athird.The Yates have four sons who work for them in their business.Yates' son Wendell reportedly bet $100 to win on Crypto Star at100-1 in Las Vegas. Crypto Star figures to be no higher than 7-2 onDerby Day.Pulpit won his first two starts, but when he tried to winthe Florida Derby at Gulfstream as an odds-on favorite, CaptainBodgit caught him nearing the wire in the 1 1/8-mile race. Butwhen Pulpit ran in the 1 1/8-mile Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, hedid it without a hitch, but there was no Captain Bodgit meeting him.Pulpit had something going for him in the Blue Grass. Heran with Lasix, which helps bleeders breathe better, and the lackof opposition in the race also helped him. If he continues toimprove, however, nobody, especially the Kentuckians, are going tocount him out of the Derby.Jockey Shane Sellers says he wouldn't trade places with anyother rider, and the colt's trainer, Frankie Brothers, is a tophorseman.I could go out an a limb and say the Derby is a three-horserace, but it seems that something always happens after a prediction.I'm not high on Pulpit anymore, but when they turn for home,I think Pulpit will be in front with Captain Bodgit and Crypto Starcircling the field, flying on the outside and catching Pulpit withevery stride.There may be 17 starters in the Derby, but only CaptainBodgit, Crypto Star and Pulpit have caught my eye.