We’ve been following the trail all the way, but now, the Kentucky Derby is finally here.  The field is drawn, with twenty main entries plus one also-eligible.  The field is competitive, with a little something for everybody: fountains of raw talent yet to be forged in the fire, hard-trying and plucky sorts who have yet to prove best against the big boys, and everything in between.  (Well, except for a filly, anyway…Rayya had 40 points on the strength of a second-place finish in the UAE Derby, but she’s off to Friday’s Kentucky Oaks instead.)

Below, we dive into the Kentucky Derby field, horse by horse, and let you know our top picks and longshot.  Below our Derby analysis, there is a chart with selections and longshots for all seven stakes races at Churchill on Saturday.

Read on in my latest at Picks and Ponderings, and let me know your thoughts in the comments!