HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Dale Romans shook his head in disbelief when he was asked about the assorted twists and turns leading to this year’s Kentucky Derby.

“I think it’s the most unusual I’ve been involved in. I’m sure there have been others like this, but it’s been musical chairs every week,” said the veteran trainer. He will try to capitalize on that uncertainty by taking a shot with 12-1 Impressive Edge in the $1 million Xpressbet Florida Derby on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

“Why not us?” was an enduring theme as schools with lesser reputations in men’s basketball toppled giants in the NCAA tournament. That anything-can-happen mantra surely applies to the 3-year-old picture this season.

As Romans put it, “Things are going in all different directions.”

Juvenile winner Classic Empire looked to be unstoppable before he made his seasonal debut in the Holy Bull Stakes on Feb. 4 at Gulfstream. Then he got hot and bothered during the post parade, was reluctant to load into the starting gate and left his backers equally unsettled when he ran an extremely disappointing third.

Classic Empire was found to have a foot abscess and later a back issue, forcing trainer Mark Casse to play from behind with his 2-year-old champion. The situation worsened when the colt apparently balked before a scheduled work at Palm Meadows Training Center in Boynton Beach, Fla.

Casse scrapped plans to run in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 8 and will point instead to the Arkansas Derby, the last of the major preps, a week later at Oaklawn Park. There is no telling which Classic Empire might show up in Hot Springs, Ark., or when he is asked to make the quick three-week turnaround to the run for the roses on May 6.

The best-laid plans also went awry with highly-regarded McCraken. He missed a scheduled start in the Tampa Bay Derby with a strained ankle. El Areeb, expected to contend in the Wood Memorial on April 8, is off the Derby trail with a knee injury likely to sideline him for six months.

Fillies were not exempt, either. The road to the Kentucky Oaks also took a sudden turn when Unique Bella, who loomed as an overwhelming favorite, suffered a shin injury that will require an extended recuperation.

Three Rules (Lauren King/Coglianese Photo)

Trainer Jose Pinchin, who will send speedy Three Rules into the Florida Derby, understands how much a part injuries play in any sport. The run-up to the Kentucky Derby is certainly not immune.

“It’s not always the best horse that wins the Derby. It’s not always the best horse that runs in the Derby,” said the native of Jamaica. “It’s just who is sound at that time.”

With all that has occurred, the Florida Derby field reflects the “Why not us?” attitude. As much as 9-5 favorite Gunnevera is respected off a commanding Fountain of Youth victory and State of Honor showed he very much belongs after placing second to Tapwrit in the Tampa Bay Derby, their presence did not discourage a large number of owners and trainers who have horses with unimpressive credentials but who suspect that a rare opportunity might be at hand.

“If you’ve got a good 3-year-old that’s training well,” Romans said, “you’d better try him and see if he belongs.”

Impressive Edge ran fourth in the Swale but rebounded to run away with a seven-furlong allowance. In this year, that was evidence enough that he should advance to the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby.

Always Dreaming also comes off an allowance win (at a mile and an eighth) for trainer Todd Pletcher, who has had 3-year-olds make that improbable leap to Grade 1 success before.

Talk Logistics perseveres after fourth-place finishes in the Holy Bull and Fountain of Youth.

The rest, though, are all of the “Why not us?” variety. In alphabetical order:

Charlie the Greek is winless in six attempts this year, including four starts in which he ran for a $35,000 claiming price.

Coleman Rocky shows a lone career win – on turf.

Quinientos, a well-beaten sixth in the Fountain of Youth, is 1-for-9 lifetime.

Florida-bred Unbridled Holiday went winless in five starts at 2 before he finally broke through against state-breds on Jan. 16 at Gulfstream.

Then again, racing is always built on hope. This year more than most.