They Might Have to Thin Out Crowd

In the event that more than 20 entries pass through the entry box at the closing. . . preference (is) given to those horses that have accumulated the highest earnings in graded stakes races, including all monies actually paid for performance in such graded stakes race.

-- Eligibility condition for Kentucky Derby

*

It happens every spring. As another Kentucky Derby approaches, horsemen and horseplayers allude to this Churchill Downs rule, which can keep legitimate contenders out of the race.

This is usually an academic exercise. The hand-wringing by trainers of horses who might not have enough purse money to qualify turns into much ado about nothing. Horses high on the money list get hurt. Prospects on the high side of the bubble run clinkers in their final prep races.

Occasionally, there’s even an owner or two thunderstruck by sanity. These refreshing exceptions tell their trainers that they really don’t want to run in the Derby, don’t want to be gouged by Churchill Downs for seats from which they can’t see the race, and don’t want to pay $500 a night for a hotel room that goes for $50 any other time of the year.

Since an earlier version of Churchill’s so-called money rule was implemented in 1975 -- after the centennial running of the Derby had drawn an unwieldy 23 starters in 1974 -- capacity entry lists have surfaced only eight times. Because of scratches after entry time, 20 horses have run in the Derby only twice (in 1981 there were 21 starters, but more about that later).

This year, though, the money rule may have a life, right up to entry time the night of April 28, three days before the race. The kvetching is much ado about something this year.

This is because a steward’s decision went against Rock Hard Ten in the Santa Anita Derby, and Eddington’s nose wasn’t long enough in the Wood Memorial.

Because of a disqualification, Rock Hard Ten was dropped from second to third at Santa Anita, costing the mountainous colt $60,000 in earnings. A week later, Eddington was edged for second at Aqueduct, costing him $75,000 in purse money.

Had either horse been second in those races, their trainers and owners wouldn’t be fretting about not getting into the Derby.

More aggravating for the Rock Hard Ten and Eddington camps, the horses that did finish second at Santa Anita and Aqueduct moved up on the list. Imperialism, who benefited from the disqualification, probably had enough money to qualify no matter where he finished in the Santa Anita Derby, but Master David, runner-up in the Wood, needed the $150,000 to get a spot at Churchill.

Churchill Downs officials are hoping there’s no reprise of what happened on entry day before the 2002 Derby. Some of the owners of Windward Passage, who had finished in a dead heat for third in the Arkansas Derby, were already in Louisville, having been told by Churchill officials that their colt would be able to draw into the field. They had also bought Derby tickets and arranged to fly in and bed down relatives and friends later in the week.

Then at the post-position draw, Mike Pegram and his trainer, Bob Baffert, entered Danthebluegrassman, who bumped Windward Passage from the field. Danthebluegrassman had finished last in the Santa Anita Derby, but he had the earnings.

Some of Windward Passage’s handlers, including trainer Steve Asmussen, took the high road and didn’t complain, but others were livid. There were eye rolls all around on Derby morn, when Danthebluegrassman, after a routine gallop, was scratched from the race, reportedly because of muscle cramps.

So there were only 18 starters -- Buddha was also scratched -- but it was too late to add Windward Passage to the field. Baffert still saddled the winner, War Emblem, for Prince Ahmed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia.

In 1981, Carl Lizza, a construction executive from Long Island, entered Noble Nashua and the filly Wayward Lass in the Derby. That seemingly prevented Flying Nashua and Mythical Ruler from running, but their owners went to court, where a judge ruled that they could run. Lawyers had found a loophole in Churchill Downs’ eligibility rules.

Lizza, citing that Wayward Lass had drawn the undesirable No. 20 post, scratched her, and the day before the Derby she finished third in the Kentucky Oaks for fillies. Noble Nashua finished ninth in the Derby. Flying Nashua was eighth, Mythical Ruler 17th. A battery of lawyers prospered.

None of the horses in question figured in the 1981 Derby, but with the Derby -- usually won by a longshot -- that’s never the point. This year, Rock Hard Ten and Eddington both figure. On Mike Watchmaker’s early morning line for the Daily Racing Form, Rock Hard Ten is tied for fifth choice at 12-1, and Eddington is tied for eighth choice at 15-1. Nevertheless, their trainers, unable to run their horses again before Derby day, must play the waiting game.

*

Halfbridled’s blood-cell-count alarm has subsided and she’s expected to run in the Kentucky Oaks on April 30.... Azeri’s next start is expected to be on May 1, Kentucky Derby day, in the seven-furlong Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs.... The Eclipse awards dinner, honoring the 2004 champions, including the horse-of-the-year winner, is scheduled for Jan. 24 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills.

*

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Money Leaders

These are the graded-stakes purse totals for contenders for the Kentucky Derby:

The Cliff’s Edge ... $793,258

Action This Day-x ... 780,000

Friends Lake ... 611,000

Smarty Jones ... 600,000

Tapit ... 530,000

Castledale ... 510,000

Limehouse ... 478,405

Lion Heart ... 475,600

Read The Footnotes ... 397,860

Wimbledon ... 375,000

Pollard’s Vision ... 366,000

Imperialism ... 363,000

Minister Eric ... 350,000

Birdstone ... 327,000

Borrego ... 320,000

Sinister G ... 302,500

Value Plus-x ... 252,500

St Averil ... 215,200

Master David ... 208,000

Preachinatthebar ... 159,000

Saratoga County-y ... 156,500

Pro Prado ... 105,685

Song Of The Sword-y ... 100,000

Tricky Taboo ... 100,000

Eddington ... 95,000

Rock Hard Ten ... 90,000

Mustanfar ... 85,500

Pomeroy-y ... 80,000

Fire Slam-y ... 78,000

Quintons Gold Rush-y ... 57,000

Suave ... 55,000

Race For Glory-y ... 0

Tiger Heart-y ... 0

Totally Platinum-y ... 0

x -- Doubtful starters.

y -- Running today in $325,000 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland.

Source for earnings totals: Daily Racing Form