Louisville, Ky. ? Friends Lake won the Florida Derby seven weeks ago, and he hasn’t run a race since. Neither has Read the Footnotes, who finished fourth there.

Birdstone was fifth in the Lane’s End Stakes six weeks ago, then missed the Blue Grass Stakes on April 10 because of an elevated white blood cell count.

Well rested, all three are ready to run in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby. And all three will try to buck history that says it’s not a good idea to come into America’s greatest race off a long layoff.

Needles in 1956 was the last horse to win the Derby without a prep race in April. But that hasn’t stopped trainers John Kimmel and Rick Violette from sticking to their plans and training their horses up to the Derby.

“I’m very comfortable where we are,” said Kimmel, who trains Friends Lake. “The layoff is not an issue.”

Violette said: “History and everything else aside, it’s the best thing for Read the Footnotes.”

Nick Zito, a two-time Derby-winning trainer, had no choice with Birdstone, but points out his colt has performed well after an extended layoff.

While all have been considered top prospects during a most unpredictable road to the Derby, the morning-line odds indicate a concern the long layoff could compromise their chances in the 1 1/4-mile race — a distance most 3-year-olds will be running for the first time.

Read the Footnotes’ jockey is Robby Albarado, Friends Lake’s is Richard Migliore, and Birdstone’s is Edgar Prado.

Read the Footnotes, the Fountain of Youth winner who has five victories in seven starts, was listed at 12-1, Friends Lake was 15-1, and Champagne winner Birdstone was 50-1 — the longest shot in the 20-horse field. The Cliff’s Edge, Zito’s Blue Grass winner, is the 4-1 favorite, with undefeated Smarty Jones next at 9-2.

Kentucky Derby entrant Friends Lake grazes with exercise rider Amanda Roxborough aboard. The horse worked out Thursday in Louisville, Ky.

“With such a wide open year, at some point you probably have to start coming up with some things to eliminate horses,” Violette said. “So if you want to hang your hat on the seven weeks, that’s great.”

Since Needles, though, only 18 Derby starters entered the race off a 30-day-plus layoff, including nine since 1999. The best finishes were third by Candy Spots in 1963 and Perfect Drift in 2002.

Friends Lake and Read the Footnotes also are attempting to make it two straight Derby wins for New York-breds. Funny Cide was the first.

“New York-breds are no flukes,” Violette said. “Funny Cide wasn’t, and I don’t think Friends Lake or Read the Footnotes are, either.”

Kimmel knew the Florida Derby would be Friends Lake’s final race before the Kentucky Derby.

After all, what’s a seven-week wait when your horse goes into the Florida Derby off an eight-week layoff and into the Holy Bull off a 12-week break?

“That was the shortest turnaround he’s had,” Kimmel said. “I think he’s sitting on a good performance.”