ROUNDUP : No Kentucky Derby for Big Al’s Express

Alydavid is the latest possible entry in what looks like a wide-open Kentucky Derby.

The colt won his third race in four career starts, all this year, by capturing the Derby Trial on opening day at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

To do it, he had to overcome a bump at the start by Big Al’s Express, the colt making his first career start after failing his first gate test.

“If everything goes well, we’ll have to take a very serious look at it,” trainer Phil Hauswald said when asked if the performance earned Alydavid a start in next Saturday’s Derby.

Counting Alydavid, the Derby is expected to draw a field of 14 or 15 when post positions are drawn on Thursday. But Big Al’s Express won’t be among them. He was treated for nervous exhaustion and owner-trainer Tom Allen recanted earlier announcements that the colt would make his second career start in the Derby.

Trainer Wayne Lukas’ Derby hopes also were hurt Sunday when Corporate Report, a strong second in the Arkansas Derby, came up with a bruised quarter on his left-front foot after working six furlongs in 1:14 1/5.

Lukas, who has had a Derby starter every year since 1981, said he would soak the colt’s foot for two days, walk him today, then take him to the track on Tuesday to test the foot.

“I’ll be very surprised if he’s not OK,” Lukas said. “I’ve got him soaking in a solution.”

Affirmed’s Image logged his third stakes win of an undefeated 1991 Sportsman’s campaign in Sunday’s $104,000 Sportsman’s Park Budweiser Breeders’ Cup.

The winning 5-year-old chestnut gelding, the only Illinois Registered horse in the field of eight 3-year-olds and upward, took an early lead and held on to win by three quarters of a length.

Ever Gallant rallied strongly from just off the pace to finish second in the 6 1/2-furlongs race, followed by Fighting Fantasy, who finished third after drifting out on the first turn.

Affirmed’s Image, ridden by Randall Meier, was clocked in 1:17 3/5 and paid $4.60 to win.

Hula Pride, the 11-10 favorite, outran Designated Dancer by 2 1/4 lengths in the $50,000 Christmas Past Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Fantastic Morning was a half-length back in third in the race for 3-year-old fillies. Ridden by Earlie Fires, Hula Pride ran 1 1/16th mile in 1:43 2/5 and paid $4.20.