Last Stop or Not?

For many years, the "Road to the Kentucky Derby" basically ended in the Coolmore Lexington Stakes at Keeneland with just two weeks before the big race. But, with an overflow field expected, there might be one more stop.

In the Coolmore Lexington, the two horses with the only shot to move on to the Derby are Uptowncharlybrown and Connemara. The connections for both horses were uncertain even if they were victorious that they would move to the first Saturday in May.

What other race could change the picture? Believe it or not, it's the Derby Trial which is run on opening day of the Churchill Downs Spring Meet. The Derby Trial, which many years ago was one of the major prep races for the Derby as the race produced eight Derby winners, has been de-emphasized over the years since it is run a week before the Derby.

This year, with the purse being increased to $200,000 (thanks in part to horse owner Robert LaPenta whose sponsorship helped rename the race after one his Derby Hopefuls, The Cliff's Edge), a win might propel another horse into the Derby field.

One such horse is Eightyfiveinafifty. The colt, who was thought to be a Derby contender early in the year, took a step back after he "bolted" during the running of the Whirlaway at Aqueduct and didn't finish the race. After a little time off, he came back with an easy win the Bay Shore Handicap on the same day that Eskendereya won the Wood Memorial.

That win plus the Derby Trial would put him at #21 on the current list and be the first win in if another horse drops out. Don't be surprised if another horse, who is outside the Top 20, takes a shot at the Derby Trial with the intent of rolling back the next week.

On Friday, another horse joined the fray with hopes of going from the Derby Trial to Derby. Pleasant Prince, who is currently 26th, looked to be out of the Derby after running seventh in the Blue Grass last Saturday. The colt, who narrowly lost the Florida Derby to Ice Box in March, will make his third start in four weeks in the Derby Trial.

Plus, don't forget that it's always a near certainty that at least horse one will either drop out or get hurt before next Wednesday.

The horses that are waiting to get in are:

21) Jackson Bend

22) Backtalk

23) Make Music For Me

24) A Little Warm and Setsuko

26) Pleasant Prince

27) Caracortado

28) Connemara

So just when you thought we finally had our field of 20....think again. That's what has made this Road to the Derby a great ride.