Several entries will have had long layoffs, something that was once unheard of

Four horses have run just two prep races. Four others are coming in off long layoffs. And some didn’t even race as two-year-olds. Conventional wisdom is out the window at this year’s Kentucky Derby, a wide-open affair that could produce a winner whose trainer might just break all the unspoken rules.

Barbaro came into Churchill Downs last year and romped to a 6½-length victory, becoming the first horse since Needles in 1956 to win after more than four weeks off.

“Last year, I was the most unorthodox trainer there was, and now this year, all these people look like geniuses because they’re taking five, six and seven weeks off between the races,” Michael Matz said. “When I did it, it was voodoo