TRIPLE CROWN RATINGS

REMARKS: Neil Howard, who trains Summer Squall, the likely favorite in the Kentucky Derby, is arguably the most nervous trainer in the race Saturday. The one with the least anxiety might be Frank Alexander.

Killer Diller, winner of the Garden State Stakes in his last start, is Alexander’s horse. Killer Diller will be one of the longshots in the 116th Derby, and Alexander likes that role just fine. “If I had a 1-5 shot, I wouldn’t even be standing here--I’d be hiding,” Alexander said to a few reporters in front of Killer Diller’s barn at Churchill Downs. “Just being here with this horse is a thrill to me. Anything we get is a bonus.”

Killer Diller is owned by Barry Schwartz, Calvin Klein’s partner in the clothing business. The colt is named after Barry Diller, the movie executive and a friend of Schwartz.

Although Pleasant Colony, winner of the 1981 Derby, has sired two of the starters in this year’s race--Killer Diller and Pleasant Tap--neither colt is given much chance. Pleasant Tap missed about a week of training at Keeneland because of a fever, and his second-place finish in the Lexington last week was only his third race of the year.

Killer Diller ran four times last year without winning, won a maiden race at Aqueduct after turning 3 and has two wins and a second in his last four starts.

The colt’s disposition does not match his name. “He doesn’t have that killer instinct,” Alexander said. “I think that will come in time. But right now, he’s like a puppy dog. You get a 5-year-old kid and he’d be able to walk him around the track.”

Jimmy Bruin, who rides Killer Diller, is one of five jockeys making their first appearance in a Derby. The others are Nick Santagata (who will ride Dr. Bobby A.), Dave Penna (Shot Gun Scott), Ron Hansen (Video Ranger) and Shane Sellers (Fighting Fantasy).

Sellers wasn’t named until late Monday. Fighting Fantasy, the winner of the Nash Handicap at Sportsman’s Park in his last start, has been ridden by five jockeys in his 12 races. Sellers, who rode him in the Nash, will be aboard Saturday. Sellers got the mount after two New York jockeys, Jacinto Vasquez and Chris Antley, told trainer John Churchman that they have other commitments.

Penna’s first Derby appearance is in jeopardy because of the way Shot Gun Scott has been training in Kentucky. Shot Gun Scott was able to beat Unbridled, the Florida Derby winner and one of the upset possibilities in the Kentucky Derby, before they left Florida. But after finishing fourth in the Blue Grass at Keeneland on April 14, Shot Gun Scott started coughing. The coughing has subsided, but he’s still training lethargically and trainer Ron Sarazin won’t know until entry time on Thursday whether he’ll start him.

If Shot Gun Scott runs, the field will be 17 horses. The others are Summer Squall, Mister Frisky, Silver Ending, Unbridled, Thirty Six Red, Killer Diller, Dr. Bobby A., Country Day, Fighting Fantasy, Pleasant Tap, Video Ranger, the Bobby Frankel-trained entry of Burnt Hills and Pendleton Ridge, and the Wayne Lukas-trained trio of Land Rush, Real Cash and Power Lunch.

There are four more training days before the Derby, but the 3-year-olds have finished most of their work and the field can be broken down into these categories.

Horses trying to retain their form--Mister Frisky, Summer Squall.

Horses that may be peaking--Land Rush, Silver Ending, Thirty Six Red.

Horses that need to improve--Real Cash, Unbridled, Video Ranger.

Horses trying to catch up--Burnt Hills, Shot Gun Scott, Pleasant Tap.

Horses overreaching--Country Day, Dr. Bobby A., Fighting Fantasy, Killer Diller, Power Lunch, Pendleton Ridge.

Advisory panel for The Times’ Triple Crown Ratings: Lenny Hale, vice president for racing at Aqueduct, Belmont Park and Saratoga; Frank (Jimmy) Kilroe, vice president for racing at Santa Anita; and Tommy Trotter, racing secretary at Arlington International Racecourse and Gulfstream Park.

Career Horse S 1 2 3 Earnings 1. Mister Frisky 16 16 0 0 $541,085 2. Summer Squall 8 7 1 0 $785,078 3. Unbridled 10 3 2 4 $519,235 4. Thirty Six Red 11 3 2 4 $578,515 5. Silver Ending 8 4 0 3 $638,900 6. Champagneforashley 6 5 0 1 $352,980 7. Land Rush 9 2 3 1 $139,737 8. Burnt Hills 7 3 3 1 $263,410 9. Real Cash 9 3 1 0 $286,225 10. Killer Diller 9 3 1 2 $145,700