It Could Be Crowded in Kentucky

Instead of narrowing the field, Saturday’s wild Santa Anita Derby has turned the Kentucky Derby into such a crowded affair that Churchill Downs, for the first time in 12 years, might have to invoke the money rule to determine the field.

That eventuality might lead to contenders like Alyrob, Semoran, Prince Of Thieves and Draw being excluded.

Usually the Santa Anita Derby accounts for a few Kentucky Derby starters, but seven of the eight horses that ran Saturday--everyone but Super Mining--are heading for Churchill Downs and the May 4 Derby.

Until 1975, there was no limit on the number of Kentucky Derby starters, but after 23 horses ran in the 100th Derby, in 1974, Churchill Downs restricted fields to 20 horses and installed a money rule. The current rule gives preference to horses that have earned the most money in graded stakes races.

There hasn’t been a capacity field for the Derby since Swale won in 1984, but this year the presence of favored Unbridled’s Song, an impressive winner of the Florida Derby, isn’t scaring many trainers off.

Cavonnier, a 10-1 shot, won the Santa Anita Derby, but there were rough trips for three horses behind him, and their trainers would like another shot in the Kentucky Derby. Prince Of Thieves, the sixth-place finisher, bled from the lungs according to a post-race examination and he’ll be treated with Lasix if he’s able to get into the Kentucky Derby field.

The chances of Alyrob were compromised by heavy traffic in the stretch, and Matty G was forced into the path of Corker when Corey Nakatani, Alyrob’s jockey, tried moving through an impossible hole. Nakatani, the leading rider at the meet, received a five-day suspension by the three stewards Sunday for his role in the interference.

“I was riding to win, that’s all,” said Nakatani, who will keep the mount on Alyrob. The latest suspension brings to 20 the number of days Nakatani will sit out during the Santa Anita meet.

Alyrob finished second, but was disqualified to last place, just behind Matty G. Corker ran fourth and was moved up to third after the disqualification.

“My horse got knocked broadside,” said Charlie Whittingham, who trains Corker. “He would have won but for that. The winner got through. He was at the right place at the right time. Right now all signals are green for the Kentucky Derby. I won it [in 1986] with Ferdinand after he was third at Santa Anita.”

Other Santa Anita Derby horses scheduled to run in the Kentucky Derby are Honour And Glory, who finished third as the favorite; and E C’s Dream, who finished fifth.

Alyrob, who might have been the best horse in the $1-million race, lost second money of $200,000. With no earnings in graded stakes, he’ll need some defections to run in the Derby. Trainer Wally Dollase plans to ship the gelding to Kentucky, and if the Derby field doesn’t open up, Alyrob will run at Churchill the day before the Derby in the $100,000 Crown Royal American Turf Stakes.