Both Indian Charlies Feeling Their Oats

The next morning, Musselman is back at Wagner's, again eating oatmeal, when he feels another tap on his shoulder. He turns and sees the same process server, still smiling as he gives him notice that he has been sued by a second person for libel.

And they say oatmeal is good for you.

You might be wondering who Ed Musselman is and what he does to make people so mad at him.

The first question is easy. He's a former Churchill Downs tour guide, groom, jockey agent and trainer who now writes a daily tip sheet during meetings here, drives to his neighborhood printer, runs off 1,500 copies and distributes them free on the track's backside under the name "Indian Charlie."

As for the second question, he thinks for a couple of seconds, his eyebrows furrowed, then claims he can't answer it.

"For every five people who don't like me, I find 95 who do," he says.

One who does is trainer Bob Baffert, who started reading the tip sheet a couple of years ago and, probably because he has a twisted sense of humor, thought it was funny.

He told Musselman he'd make him famous, and when Baffert decided he didn't like the name of a promising young Cal-bred, Rundeeprunsilent, he remembered his promise and changed it to Indian Charlie.

Of course, Baffert had no idea he would make Musselman this famous. But then he had no idea the colt would go undefeated through his first four races, win the Santa Anita Derby and arrive under the twin spires for Saturday's Kentucky Derby as the favorite.

Now Musselman walks among the barns followed by a horde of reporters, as if he's Wayne Lukas or Rick Pitino.

Some people here in the cathedral of thoroughbred racing are not amused.

One owner, Tom Gentry, distributes lapel buttons that read, "I Like Indian Charlie--The Horse."

As opposed to Indian Charlie, the horse's . . . well, you know.

"It's unfortunate for the horse," bloodstock agent Don Alvey says. "He can't help what he's named. It's like a boy named Sue."