Injuries, Lack Of Lukas Entry Leave Kentucky Derby Field At 13

This year’s Kentucky Derby could have the smallest field since 1985.

Entries are taken in a week and the field now stands at 13. But two of those aren’t definite.

Lone Star Derby winner Anet is “very possible,” but could instead go in the Illinois Derby a week later, and Pacificbounty has been battling a foot injury, though the cut is healing.

It could be only the fourth Derby since 1980 in which the entire field could be contained in the 14-stall main starting gate, with 13 horses in 1985 and 1980 and 14 in 1994. When more than 14 run, the six-stall auxiliary gate also must be employed.

One factor is that trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who has been represented for a record 16 straight years, is out of the Derby picture this year. Last year, Lukas ran five horses, more than 25 percent of the 19-horse field. In 1995, he had three of 19 starters.

Another is the rash of injuries that knocked three horses out of the race in the past nine days, plus the fatal breakdown of Inexcessivelygood in the March 31 Jim Beam Stakes.

Then, too, this is shaping up as one of the most competitive Derby fields in years. The winners of the final major prep races - Captain Bodgit (Wood Memorial), Pulpit (Toyota Blue Grass), Crypto Star (Arkansas Derby) and Free House (Santa Anita Derby) - all turned in strong efforts, but cases also can be made for the runners-up in those events.

As it stands, only Celtic Warrior wasn’t at least third in his last race. He closed to be fourth in the Blue Grass, only 1-1/4 lengths out of second.

“Usually you’ll have four or five real decent horses and the rest are outsiders,” said Donnie Richardson, Churchill Downs’ vice president for racing. “Here you have anywhere from eight to nine (with a shot to win).”

History shows that nothing is final until entries close next Wednesday.

“There might be some other ones in there that are thinking about it but are just too embarrassed to come forward,” suggested Bob Baffert, who could be the only trainer this year to have two Derby starters, Santa Anita Derby runner-up Silver Charm and Anet. “It seems there are always a couple of those.”