Louisville native Weaver realizing Derby dream as trainer (The Associated Press)

The Louisville native saw his first Kentucky Derby here at age 9, which helped stoke an early calling toward training horses. Weaver is now seeing that childhood dream come full circle as a first-time Derby trainer, the reality of which hit him as the track came into view. ”When you get to training horses, having a horse run in the Derby and one that you feel has a shot to win it, it is kind of a dream come true.” Whether Tencendur and jockey Manny Franco provide a happy ending for Weaver and owner Philip S. Birsh on Saturday depends on how the 3-year-old colt handles 19 other contenders over 1 1/4 miles. The full field includes five combined entrants between Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas and Todd Pletcher, not to mention Bob Baffert’s formidable duo of American Pharoah and Dortmund.