Minnesota-owned entries and other Derby horses are center of bustling scene

Louisville, KY. — It's T-minus two days to the Kentucky Derby, and Thursday was the last day of regular training hours at Churchill Downs before the big weekend. The Thursday before the Derby always draws a crowd to the track's backside to see the contenders. Jeff Drown and Barry Butzow, the Minnesota owners of Zandon and Zozos, were among those who arrived at the stable area shortly after sunrise to check out their horses.

The colts are situated near each other. Zandon, trained by Chad Brown, is in barn 25. Zozos, trained by Brad Cox, is in barn 22. Both galloped a mile and a half during the special training period restricted to horses running in the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, and both looked magnificent.

Neither horse seemed bothered by the bustling scene around them. Hundreds of people crowded up against the rail and jammed into viewing areas to catch a glimpse of the Derby horses, who wear bright yellow saddle cloths bearing their names. Cameras were everywhere. NBC's Mike Tirico was being shuttled around on the back of a golf cart. Some women already were wearing elaborate hats, and one guy sported a flamingo-print suit.

The Cox barn was a popular spot because of another resident celebrity. A stout black goat, Mr. Man, patrolled the shedrow looking for pats and attention. (You can follow him on Twitter! @1_misterman) At one point, there was a crowd of people around him, taking selfies.

The horses were a draw, too. Cox has three Derby entries: Zozos, Cyberknife and Tawny Port. Team Cyberknife showed up in force, led by owner Al Gold, who named his colt after the procedure used to treat his prostate cancer. Gold and his family have used their Derby spotlight to encourage testing and treatment.

The morning ritual for a Derby horse includes a predawn breakfast, grooming, exercise and a bath. Drown and his wife, Jill Vouk-Drown, watched Zandon on the track and then hung out with him for a while. By 9:30 a.m., the morning-line favorite for the Kentucky Derby was settled back into his stall with a full net of hay to snack on, resting up for his big day.