1.   And although racing has one of the shortest offseasons in sports, the time still is sufficient to re-energize the racers and their fans.

2.   In the last three years, racing has had stars such as Holy Bull and Cigar, and now the California rivals and their entertaining entourages.

3.   Now racing has to wonder if any challengers will show up to take on the Derby winner in two weeks at the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore.

4.   Pace laps run faster than that nowadays, but even a century ago, racing had its sales-pitch component up to speed.

5.   Still, racing has a way of humbling everyone involved.