Trainer Harold Rose talks with reporters outside his barn Monday morning at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Not just for the ultra-lovable, 88-year-old Harold Rose, whose love for his dark bay beauty helped him recover from a major heart attack and quadruple bypass last year. But also for the man on the mount, Roger Velez.

Never mind that the Miami-born jockey is a 43-year-old Derby rookie. For Velez, being here at The Downs is the culmination of a journey that looked inevitable in the early '70s, and then absolutely out of the question in the '80s.

One of the top jockeys in New York throughout the '70s, Velez seemed destined for years of greatness at places named Churchill Downs, Pimlico, Belmont Park, Saratoga -- you name it. Instead of following up victories at the Whiney Handicap (1976) and the Matron (1978) with mounts on the most prized 3-year-olds, the grips of alcoholism got to him, and he hit "rock bottom" during the '80s and early '90s.

It wasn't until a close female friend of his was on her deathbed in 1992 that Velez finally made a pledge to stop drinking and, consequently, get back into his first love -- horse racing. Now, some eight years later, he feels as though the Man Upstairs has decided to give him his last big break.

"This is my last chance," says Velez. "It's been 20 years in the making. And we're all very upbeat."

"It's amazing with Hal's Hope, he's such a smart horse," says Velez, who has three daughters with his wife, Patti. "I talk to him as soon as I climb aboard him every morning, just to let him know it's alright and everything is going to be OK."

Velez says the horse -- which has only had Velez aboard as a jockey -- responds to him in many ways, but nothing compares to what happens down the backstretch.

"When I say, 'Hal, switch!' his ears twitch back and forth," says Velez, outside of Barn 42 on Friday morning. "ABC even got a shot of it for its broadcast. After the twitch, he takes off."

When Hal's Hope jumped up on its hind legs on Thursday, onlookers thought they were seeing a Fusaichi Pegasus imitation. Not to worry, says Velez.

"No, I know what it means when he does that. It means he's happy. He just loves when he has an audience."

Running out of Post 4, the son of Jolie's Halo will run in what Velez believes is an open race.

"Only one horse [Fusaichi Pegasus] looks great, but it will come down to the final turn and who has the lead," says Velez. "That's what separates the men from the boys. I'm hoping that they'll let this little black horse from the backyard take the lead."

If he does, look for plenty of ear twitching. And if the 20-1 shot pulls it off, expect lots of soak-stained hankies invading your television screens.

REG-GIE! REG-GIE!
Mr. October has suddenly become the main man for a trainer who has every reason to be dubbed Mr. May. Former New York Yankees star Reggie Jackson delighted the crowd on Friday morning at the backside as the guest of Bob Baffert. Making his first appearance at the Derby, Jackson really has enjoyed himself.

"We met when he was at a Yankees game in Anaheim and he invited me to come out here," says Jackson, who arrived at dawn with Baffert. "I'm kind of a rookie at this. I had a job for 20-something years during the Derby, but I've always watched."

Wearing the garb of the famous Las Vegas golf course, Shadow Creek, Jackson was very intrigued about what goes on in the barn and on the track during the early morning. The attention to detail of Baffert and total commitment to his horses really has impressed the Hall of Famer. The person he really wants to meet, though, is ABC's Dave Johnson, the legendary race caller.

"He's the one I'm always interested in, and that's why I watch the Triple Crown," says Jackson, who now works for Compaq. "His calls down the stretch really make it exciting. I remember one year (1997) when these two horses [Baffert's Silver Charm and Gary Capuano's Captain Bodgit] were running neck and neck down the stretch and his call was simply unbelievable. Those things get me excited."

Does this whole spectacle compare to the World Series?

"It does for a jockey," says Jackson, who Baffert kidded by saying, "He's here looking for a date." "For him it's much like the final shot in an NBA Final or an at-bat in the sixth or seventh game of the World Series. I say that because he only has his moment for two minutes. I can tell you, that moment goes by fast."

Enough, already
As the only female trainer in Derby 126, Jenine Sahadi has felt the wrath of the press more than anyone. So it's understandable that she wants Saturday afternoon to come as quickly as possible.

"I'm so exhausted, so I'm not even nervous," says Sahadi, who galloped The Deputy a mile and one-quarter on Friday morning. "I've prided myself on attending everything, but that means my day runs from six in the morning to past nine at night. And I haven't been sleeping all too well.

"Adrenaline will carry me through tomorrow."

Sahadi, who will be only the 10th woman to saddle a Derby starter, will school her Irish-bred colt in the Churchill Downs paddock on Friday afternoon during the Kentucky Oaks card.

"The horse is doing great," says the 37-year-old, who is one of the few trainers here with just one horse. "We'll be ready."

Doubling up at Churchill Downs
Three trainers have placed horses in both the Kentucky Derby and Friday's Kentucky Oaks for fillies. Todd Pletcher, who has four horses in the Derby (Trippi, Graeme Hall, More Than Ready and Impeachment), will run two entries in the mile and one-eighth classic (Circle of Life and Eden Lodge) while Bobby Frankel and D. Wayne Lukas will run one filly each.

The Derby/Oaks double has been completed three times in the same year. The last to pull the trick was Ben A. Jones back in 1952, after accomplishing the same feat three years earlier. The only other trainer to win both in the same year was H.J. Thompson in 1932.

Jockeys have had much more luck, doubling up six times in the Derby and Oaks. Jerry Bailey was the last to do it in 1993 with Sea Hero (Derby) and Dispute (Oaks). He aims to do it again this year, riding Cash Run in the Oaks and War Chant on Saturday.

For the last time
You're probably still getting it wrong. It's Foo-Sah-EE-Chee (Fusaichi) Pegasus. Even trainer Neil Drysdale has trouble getting that tongue twister out of his month -- especially with an English accent.

"My interpretation is probably the same as yours," he said while laughing. "I've probably said it a few different ways. Sometimes I just call him the colt."

They said it
Reggie Jackson on whether he'd ever buy a horse: "I buy race cars and airplanes, not horses."

Cot Campbell, president of Dogwood Stable, which owns Trippi and Impeachment, on his horses' odds: "The horses don't know who the favorites and longshots are, and I won't be betting."

Bob Lewis, the owner of two Triple Crown near misses (Charismatic and Silver Charm), and two entries in Derby 126 (High Yield and Commendable) on High Yield's outlook: "I'll say this, he really has that charisma. Or, should I say, Charismatic."