71-year-old trainer Mike Harrington has first horse in Kentucky Derby

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Mike Harrington is content watching the hubbub surrounding Kentucky Derby week from afar. The 71-year-old trainer is happily tucked away in a non-descript barn lacking a view of the Twin Spires. Let Churchill Downs stable visitors be entertained by Bob Baffert's jokes or eavesdrop on Todd Pletcher's training tidbits.

Harrington prefers laying low with Creative Cause, likely to be one of the top betting choices for Saturday's race.

The gray-roan colt has never finished out of the money in any of his eight career races, posting four wins, two seconds and two thirds. He's among the best of five strong California-based horses in the expected 20-horse field. Of course, Baffert and Pletcher hold their usual strong hand, with two horses each in the 138th Derby. Harrington has his first.