Going nose-to-nose for a ‘First Saturday’ finish

Of the 40,000 thoroughbred horses born in the U.S. each year, only 20 will ever make it to the Kentucky Derby, the race that’s been described as “the most exciting two minutes in sports.”

“The First Saturday in May,” a documentary opening Friday at Laemmle’s Sunset 5 in West Hollywood, follows the competition leading to the 2006 race at Churchill Downs through the eyes of six trainers and their horses.

“When people tune into horse racing, they tune into Derby Day,” says John Hennegen, who directed the film with his brother Brad. “They see a couple of trainers. But we wanted to put a face on people who don’t make the headlines. They don’t make a lot of money, but they love horses. It’s all they know and for a reason -- they love it.”

The brothers shot more than 500 hours of footage and traveled more than 150,000 miles during the 16 months leading to the Kentucky Derby.

Among those profiled is Michael Matz, who trained Barbaro, the 2006 Kentucky Derby champ. Tragedy struck weeks later when the animal suffered a devastating leg injury in the Preakness. After battling through numerous surgeries, Barbaro finally succumbed in early 2007. “First Saturday” includes footage of Barbaro in December 2006, just before his health deteriorated.

“He was doing well,” says Brad Hennegen. “He was a smart horse and not overdoing it. Then he took a down turn. . . . It was too much for him.”

The brothers have pledged 25% of box office revenue of Truly Indie -- the company releasing the film -- to Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, the worldwide leader in equine research.

“We always wanted to give something back,” John Hennegen says.

-- Susan King