LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- One of the best things about being a part of the Kentucky Derby this year is that one of its best personalities is back, hoping to finally wrap up some unfinished business.

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Louie Roussel is back. Back at Churchill Downs. Back at the Kentucky Derby. And he's waited for a long time for this, with a horse appropriately named Recapturetheglory.

"It was meant to be," he said.

It was not meant to be 20 years ago for Roussel. For while he won the Preakness and Belmont in 1988, the race Roussel really wanted to win was the Kentucky Derby.

But his Risen Star was a hard-luck third before going on to become one of 49 horses to win two-thirds of the Triple Crown.

Roussel hasn't had a Derby starter in the two decades since, but now will run for the roses again with longshot Illinois Derby-winner Recapturetheglory.

"If you're the last man standing, if you're the best, go ahead," he said.

Roussel is now 62 years old and has enjoyed the journey of his life. Louisiana-born and bred, he still lives there.

He's a trainer, but through the years he's also been a horse owner, a lawyer, a banker, an insurance agent and a former owner of the New Orleans Fairgrounds Racetrack. He still owns the barn he's stabled in there.

But there's one place he's yet to visit that he might trade it all for, a place used just once a year: the Kentucky Derby Winner's Circle.

"To me, to come here to Kentucky, this is it," he said. "To win this race is probably the highlight of any trainer's career. I feel good about it."

Roussel is a very superstitious guy. Recapturetheglory is in the same Churchill Downs stall in Barn 42 that was the pre-Derby home to Risen Star.

Roussel will need a lot of luck to see his Derby-winning dream come true, as Vegas rates Recapturetheglory a 30-1 shot to wear roses May 3.