"Next stop Kentucky". Those are the words that will come out of announcer Trevor Denman when the winner of this year's Santa Anita Derby crosses the finish line but the concept of this piece is to isolate who that will be.

They say good things come in small packages and a small but select field is likely for the mile and an eighth renewal this year and we'll go over the pros and cons of each after some facts about the race.

The speed record for the race is 1:47 and is shared by three horses, Lucky Debonair, Sham and Indian Charlie.

A total of 14 Kentucky Derby winners also won the Santa Anita Derby.

Bob Baffert will be shooting for a record 5th win in his race and he is tied with D. Wayne Lukas at 4 in that category.

Last year, Colonel John had to overcome a strange trip when he was shuffled back to 9th before getting up in the last 2 jumps with a 1:48.16 clocking.

Those that have a sweet tooth will be all over Chocolate Candy. The son of the brilliant Candy Ride took awhile to figure it out, he lost his first 3 races, but has won 4 of his last 5 and is obviously going in the right direction.

Since leaving Del Mar, he's also been on a progressive Beyer campaign. He's improving figure wise in 5 straight races and the feeling is he has not peaked yet. One of his best assets is his ability to adapt to any situation.

He used tactical speed in his last win in the El Camino Real and was sitting a garden trip in third before unleashing his kick to post the 91 winning Beyer.

Jerry Hollendorfer also has him coming to the race fit as a fiddle with 5 solid drills in March. If the pace becomes contested, all the better for this colt.

If you are looking for a boost for Candy you need to only listen to Gary Stevens, who won this race 9 times. Stevens: " I love him... he's better than anybody gives him credit for, he's running fast numbers. He's running just as fast as those other two horses are on the sheets."

Darrell Vienna's charge Feisty Suances figures to put the most pressure on The Pamplemousse early on. The soph started his career like a ball of fire winning his first 3, seemed to go off form in the Cal Derby at Golden Gate, but bounced back with a good second in Pioneerof the Nile's San Felipe win.

The colt gets his class from his bottom side as his dam is kin an over $400,000 earner and his backers will have to hope he can track the leader, then get first run on the deep closers.

The Mr. Big Stuff crew has a vehicle in Mr. Hot Stuff, a rank outsider with limited speed and untapped potential. If you believe in déjà vu this guy is right up your alley. He's a full brother to last year's SA Derby hero but was a slow starter and only has a maiden win to his credit.

His best asset could be the fact he has proved he can pass horses.

They will all have to collar The Pamplemousse. Once this $150,000 purchase was sent a route of ground, he turned into a star.

He has improved Beyer wise in every single race and is fresh from posting a 103 winning figure in the G3 Sham.

The sure favorite will be pushed along early but the feeling is he can sit second and still perform.

Pioneerof the Nile is the horse to beat. He had a rough trip in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, but has won three in a row although he was less than impressive in his last win. Bred to run all day, he has the style that suggests he'll get the trip and he has class on the bottom side as his dam won a stakes and is kin to a near $600,000 earner.

His connections have to hope the speed is compromised and this guy finds a lane to rally in time.

How does it shake out?

The Pamplemousse will be pushed hard by Feisty Suances but the splits will be moderate and there will lie the rub.

At the top of the lane Pioneerof the Nile will make his move three wide and will look like he is going to blow right by them, but The Pamplemousse re-engages on the lead and holds off the Baffert charge by a half length.

When the smoke clears, the flowers will be on Julio Canani's charge and the Peruvian will be booking his ticket to Louisville.