While some people analyze every prep race and workout to determine the next Kentucky Derby champion, I prefer to take a more laissez-fair approach to my picks for the first Saturday in May. Here are my top four derby horses:

1. Mubtaahiji – This horse is coming off a big win in the United Arab Emirates Derby at Meydan racetrack in Dubai. How neat is that?! But it goes without saying that he has several factors working against him. Besides the obvious fact that he was shipped a gazillion miles across an ocean to get to Churchill Downs for the derby, he will probably be the only horse in the field running without Lasix. This is a diuretic medication that prevents racehorses from bleeding from the lungs when they run. To be quite candid, it also makes horses pee a lot, so they drop a significant amount of water weight before they race. If you ever wondered where the saying ‘pee like a racehorse’ came from, well there ya go folks! According to America’s Best Racing, Mubtaahiji will be also running on a different feed, as international shipping regulations don’t allow for his trainer to ship his special feed mix to the U.S. The forces may be against him, but there’s always room for a dark horse in my picks.

2. Frosted – First of all, this horse is gray and he runs in the blue silks of Godolphin Racing. Sounds poetic, doesn’t it? For those of you who are fans of the movie Frozen, place a bet on this horse and then if he loses dreadfully you can sing the song “Let it Go” as you think about the money you just lost. Just kidding! But in all seriousness, I really like this horse. His win in the Wood Memorial Stakes struck me as promising, and he’ll be toting a talented jock – Joel Rosario – who won the 2013 Kentucky Derby aboard Orb.

3. Dortmund – Undefeated, trained by Bob Baffert and sired by Big Brown. What more could you want? I had a short love affair with Big Brown as he made his bid for the 2008 Triple Crown. Like so many before him, he took home the Derby and Preakness but failed miserably in the Belmont. The 12 year old Annise cried her eyes out when good ole’ Brownie fell short of the Crown, so the romantic in me hopes his son will come back and redeem him. A girl can dream, right?

4. Materiality – Here we have another undefeated boy sired by another almost Triple Crown winner, Afleet Alex. Interestingly enough, this horse did not race as a two year old, and comes into the derby with only three starts under his belt. Perhaps he’ll have beginners luck on his side. Haha, that was a joke. With the talented field in this year’s Kentucky Derby he’s going to be a longer shot than most. But I think there’s something to be said for a lightly raced 3-year-old.

Have fun and may the horse be with you! May the odds be ever in your favor! Okay I’m done with my movie puns. Good luck and happy derby!