According to Webster's sham can mean a trick that deludes, fear that the deal was a sham or cheap flashiness, but the Sham that will be renewed this weekend at Santa Anita is none of the above yet an important stepping-stone to the Santa Anita Derby.

Downgraded to a Grade 3, the $150,000 9-furlong fixture is named for the 1973 Santa Anita Derby hero that had the misfortune of being in the same crop as arguably the best horse ever, Secretariat.

The son of Pretense had speed, was best as a stalker and retired with distinction of running 2nd in all 3 Triple Crown races to Big Red.

Whoever wins this year's fixture will be having a coming out party, as the 9 possible reported candidates are so far long on potential and short on accomplishments.

Over the years it has been won by some nice horses but rarely the superstar. Bob and John took the 2006 renewal and was well respected going into the Kentucky Derby off a Gotham win but came up empty as a pauper.

Two years ago, Colonel John cemented his status as a genuine racehorse as he took the Santa Anita Derby after winning the Sham and went on to take the Travers in the summer at Saratoga.

Last year The Pamplemousse made it three in a row with his Sham win going wire to wire with a 107 Beyer figure but has not been seen since.

Let's look to the divine 9 that are aiming for this race with improvement on the agenda. Kettle River has a different style than his speedball sire Congaree but he is going in the right direction and coming off a clever 90 Beyer taking a N1X fray over the surface.

Alphie's Bet is bred to run all day long but is stepping into his first race vs. winners after beating state-breds with a 65 Beyer. He will need to hurry.

Boulder Creek, by exciting young sire Tapit, is also just a maiden winner but is in the right hands of Craig Dollase and has a right to mature with grace as a $300,000 purchase.

Nextdoorneighbor is coming to the race sharp. The recent graduate posted a best of 31 1:10 3/5 bullet work on Feb. 15 and gets his class from his dam, a Grade 3 winner and over $600K earner.

The rebel with a cause in the field is Outlaw Man, who has been improving since a poor debut and will try to parlay a nose maiden breaking win to a breakout race.

Like most who will race Privilaged is looking for some respect. He was a tiger in the debut, has lost 4 times since, and has to step up for trainer John Sadler.

Setsuko will be ridden by leading pilot Rafael Bejarano and the longer this guy goes, the better. By BC Classic winner Pleasantly Perfect, he looks like the type of runner that will thrive with a lot of pace up front, has two siblings that banked 6 figures and is out of a stakes winning dam that is kin to double Graded winner and near $550,000 earner Souvenir Copy.

The Program has a running style similar to Sham's and has been solid since being sent long. He was far from disgraced in a Grade 1 last year and is in the right hands of Bob Baffert.

It's hard to see Viva Macho as winner as he is still a maiden while Wolf Tail won a stakes at 2 and could show speed as he is stretching out.

When the gates spring, look for Wolf Tail to track The Program early through moderate splits with Nextdoorneighbor getting a perfect garden trip.

At the top of the lane, Bejarano will ask Setsuko the question and he will respond by drawing away in visually yet deceptive fashion.

In these Triple Crown preps through the spring, don't only look for the obvious and what has just happened, but try to project how these runners will mature and where they will fit that first Saturday in May.