Money Talks

With "crunch time" about to start on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, most owners and trainers are focused on getting enough money to qualify for the 20 spots to start in the Derby. And, in the midst of the NCAA Tournament, those horses who are on the earnings "bubble," will have plenty of chances to punch their ticket for the "Run for the Roses."

For those who don't know or aren't sure how it works, if more than 20 want to run in the Kentucky Derby, then Churchill Downs turns to a list of earnings in Graded Stakes Races. (Graded Stakes Races are considered the highest levels of racing). The top 20 money earners in those graded stakes are given priority. It's almost analogous to NASCAR in its points system for those Top 12 drivers who qualify for the Sprint Cup Chase.

Over the next four weekends, there are multiple opportunities for horses to vault their way into the Top 20 and lock up a spot. This weekend alone there are four races with substantial money on the line which will all but guarantee the winners entry into the Derby. (See below for list of races.)

Since there hasn't been a dominant three-year-old this year, you can be pretty sure that we'll see a capacity field of 20 in the Kentucky Derby.

What's even more crucial about this weekend's races are just two of the 37 three-year-olds that are running are inside the Top 25 on the official earnings list. (Those two horses are the Todd Pletcher-trained Discreetly Mine (#9, above) and the unbeaten Conveyance. (#15))

All four of this weekend's events are wide open which means we are likely to see a few new names in the Top 20. But if you are worried about some of the biggest and best trainers in the country not being amongst the Top 20, you have nothing to fear.

Such prominent names as Bob Baffert, Richard Dutrow, D. Wayne Lukas and Nick Zito, all Derby winning trainers, should have at least one horse in the starting gate on the first Saturday in May. And Pletcher, the best trainer never to win a Derby, should have at least three entrants into the Derby.

It will be a great weekend of racing and if you haven't watched any races leading up to the Derby, it's a good time as any to tune in.

SATURDAY

$2,000,000 UAE Derby - Post Time: 10:40 a.m. (ET)

$750,000 Louisiana Derby - Post Time: 5:48 (ET) (Live on USA Network)

$500,000 Lane's End - Post Time: 5:12 p.m. (ET) (Live on USA Network)

SUNDAY

$850,000 Sunland Park Derby - Post Time -7:45 p.m. (ET) (Live on NTRA.com)

(Photo courtesy of Eclipse Sportswire)