LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Only two trainers have sent out more starters in the Kentucky Derby than Nick Zito — D. Wayne Lukas with 42 and H.J. "Dick" Thompson with 24.

Zito is at 19 and set to saddle two more in Saturday's Derby at Churchill Downs, Cool Coal Man and Anak Nakal. His best 3-year-old, War Pass, is out with an injury, leaving the Hall of Fame trainer hoping one of his colts can pull a huge upset.

As usual, he's taking a positive approach in trying to win his third Derby. Lukas and Thompson each won four Derbys.

Cool Coal Man and Anak Nakal both have victories over the Churchill Downs dirt "so that's something in their favor," Zito said.

"I'm hoping the form (Anak Nakal) had in the Kentucky Jockey Club is something he has in the Kentucky Derby," he added. "Cool Coal Man also won on the track, so hopefully that's a good sign, too."

Zito could use a good sign when it comes to the Derby. He won the 1991 Derby with Strike the Gold and the 1994 Derby with Go for Gin, but is 0-for-16 since. In 2005, he sent out a record-tying five horses, but his best finish was seventh with Bellamy Road.

Cool Coal Man, winner of the Fountain of Youth Stakes, finished ninth in the Blue Grass Stakes on Polytrack in his last start. Anak Nakal is 0-for-3 this year, running fifth in the Wood Memorial in his last start.

A FILLY IN THE FIELD

If Eight Belles runs in the Derby, she will be the first filly in the field since 1999, when two ran — Excellent Meeting was fifth, Three Ring 19th.

Three of the 38 fillies who took on the boys won — Regret in 1915, Genuine Risk in 1980 and Winning Colors in 1988.