The Alibi Breakfast is underway. A Preakness tradition, the Maryland Jockey Club offers a big spread of breakfast delights, plenty of juice and coffee, and a Black-Eyed Susan, if you're so inclined.

1:00 p.m. Showstopper After the fourth race, a ripple of excitement goes through the paddock area. Curlin , the 2007 Horse of the Year, is about to make a red carpet entrance. Yes, that’s right, the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) winner is the first horse in history to walk the red carpet at Churchill Downs. He is preceded by outrider Greg Blasi , brother to assistant trainer Scott Blasi . The outrider’s...

Yesterday, a horse named Leigh McLovin ran second in her first start in a maiden special weight. That made us think of two things: McLovin...and McLovin.

Big Brown has made his entrance, and his exit, from the track this morning. Over at Barn 33, Aimee Dollase gives a leg up to an exercise rider. She's the daughter of trainer Wally Dollase. She's also a great handicapper.

You never know what you will see on the backside at Churchill Downs on Derby week.

As outspoken as any other trainer in the game, Nick Zito is talking about the subject of the year: synthetic surfaces. We have a feeling he's not a big fan.

Richard Migliore bounds through Barn 45 at Churchill Downs at a few minutes past nine. That's late for a racetracker, but the jet-setting jockey has a valid excuse. He just got into town.

Between the paddock and the Paddock Pavilion, there's a "Street" party going. Signing copies of the book "Kentucky Derby" are jockey Calvin Borel, trainer Carl Nafzger, and breeder/owner James Tafel. The team won last year's Kentucky Derby with Street Sense.