Derby Field Is Still in Flux

Rock Hard Ten was scratched from Saturday’s Derby Trial, and now he and Eddington -- both legitimate contenders -- must wait to see if additional dropouts might vault them into the Kentucky Derby field next Saturday.

Sinister G was withdrawn from the Derby on Saturday, while St Averil, who is in California, remained on the fence for the 130th Derby. The field limit is 20, so the fate of Eddington, third-place finisher in the Wood Memorial, and Rock Hard Ten, second, then disqualified to third, in the Santa Anita Derby, depends on what other trainers do. They are 21st and 22nd, respectively, on the graded-earnings list, which determines the field if more than 20 horses want to run.

“It is starting to look like we may have a chance to get in,” said Jason Orman, who trains Rock Hard Ten. Had Rock Hard Ten run in the one-mile Trial, it would have been difficult for him to come back a week later and run 1 1/4 miles.

Short of running in the Derby, Rock Hard Ten would be geared for the Preakness at Pimlico on May 15.

Eddington remained at his home base, Belmont Park. The colt would be on a flight from New York to Louisville on Wednesday if it looked as if he had a chance to run. The cutoff day for the field is Wednesday, when entries will be taken and post positions drawn.

Jerry Bailey is riding Wimbledon, but he would be able to jump to Eddington, his first choice, if Eddington makes the Derby.

The $110,800 Derby Trial, which won’t produce any Derby starters, was won by Sir Shackleton, ridden by Rafael Bejarano and trained by Nick Zito. Courageous Act ran second and Bwana Charlie was third in a five-horse field as the Churchill Downs meet opened before 11,412 fans.

“This is an incredible way to start the week,” said Zito, who is running The Cliff’s Edge -- the possible favorite -- and Birdstone in the Derby.

Sinister G won’t run in the Derby, trainer John Toscano Jr. said, because a cough prevented him from getting a needed workout.

St Averil worked six furlongs in 1:11 4/5 at Santa Anita, after which trainer Rafael Becerra said he and the colt’s owner, Stan Fulton, would meet today to discuss whether they run in the Derby.

In other workouts Saturday, Smarty Jones worked five furlongs in 58 seconds flat at Churchill, and Birdstone worked in :58 2/5.

At Hollywood Park, Castledale worked six furlongs in 1:11 4/5. Before the work, Frank Lyons, a minority owner, indicated that the colt would run in the Derby.

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Kentucky Derby

Facts regarding the 130th running of the Kentucky Derby. All times Pacific:

* When: Saturday.

* Where: Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

* Post time: 3:04 p.m.

* TV: Channel 4, coverage begins at

2 p.m.

* Post-position draw: Wednesday,

2 p.m., ESPN.