KENTUCKY DERBY
Twenty-two entered for historic race; field limited to 20
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Twentytwo horses have been entered for Saturday's Kentucky Derby, two more than the maximum field of 20.
The entry box closed Wednesday morning, with the draw to determine post positions set for later in the afternoon. The field is limited to the top 20 horses based on points earned in designated prep races.
Leading the way is undefeated Nyquist, winner of the Florida Derby. The colt is trained by Doug O'Neill, who won the race in 2012 with I'll Have Another.
Bob Baffert, who last year trained American Pharoah to the sport's first Triple Crown in 37 years, will saddle Mor Spirit.
Trainer Steve Asmussen has two horses, Gun Runner and Creator. Chad Brown has Shagaf and My Man Sam, while Todd Pletcher will saddle Destin and Outwork.
The also eligibles are Laoban and Cherry Wine, who would need defections by early Friday morning to get into the 1 1/4-mile race.
Owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey paid the $200,000 supplemental fee to make Oscar Nominated eligible to the Triple Crown. The colt was not an early nominee on Jan. 16, which would have cost $600, or a late nominee on March 21, which would have cost $6,000. Oscar Nominated is just the third horse to be a supplemental nominee since the practice began in 1996.
The extra money as a result of Oscar Nominated's supplemental entry raises the Derby purse to $2,391,600, if 20 horses start. It would be the second-richest purse in the race's 142-year history, behind the $2,399,600 awarded in 2005. The winner would earn $1,631,600.