With Saturday’s Lexington Stakes producing one Kentucky Derby runner in winner Quintons Gold Rush and possibly two others – Fire Slam and Song of the Sword, who finished a neck apart in second and third – the May 1 Run for the Roses is assured of having the maximum 20 horses in the starting gate.

Unfortunately for several hopefuls, the starting berths are determined by purse earnings in graded stakes, which means talented 3-year-olds like Eddington and Rock Hard Ten will be outside looking in on Derby Day.

A full field of 20 hasn’t run for the roses since 1984, although several full fields have been entered since then but reduced by scratches before race day.

What’s strange about this full field, in a very strange year, is that no group of Derby candidates in memory has had so many horses trying to rebound from dreadful performances in their final preps. Usually, such horses shop for softer spots, but not this year.

Action This Day, last year’s 2-year-old champion, hasn’t hit the board in three starts this season and finished sixth last out in the Blue Grass, beaten 13 ½ lengths. Birdstone will be coming off a six-week layoff after finishing fifth as the favorite in the Lane’s End, beaten 103/4.

St Averil and Wimbledon are exiting dull efforts in the Santa Anita Derby as the first and second choices. Sinister G heads for Churchill Downs despite stopping like a cheap watch in the Wood Memorial. Preachinatthebar, who’s on the bubble earnings-wise, was seventh in the Blue Grass, more than 30 lengths behind.

* Quintons Gold Rush earned his way into the Derby with a smart score over 13 opponents in the mile-and-a-sixteenth Lexington. Overcoming his outside post 10, the son of Wild Rush pressed the early pace, then easily drew off to win by 2 3/4 lengths under Jerry Bailey.

Bailey, who’s been bouncing around all winter and spring from one Derby contender to another – Birdstone, Eddington, Read The Footnotes – was asked to ride Quintons Gold Rush in the Derby. Bailey’s agent, Ron Anderson, yesterday accepted trainer Bob Baffert’s offer to pilot Louisiana Derby winner Wimbledon, taking over from Javier Santiago, who gave the big gray colt an overanxious ride in the Santa Anita Derby.

* Although he has yet to race in a stakes this year, Minister Eric will run in the Derby after winning a mile-and-a-sixteenth allowance race Wednesday at Keeneland. With his regular rider, Alex Solis, opting to ride Wood runner-up Master David in the Derby, Minister Eric will be ridden by Pat Day, trainer Dick Mandella said yesterday.

—-

HOW HOPEFULS $HAPE UP

Only 20 horses can start in Derby

1 The Cliff’s Edge $793,258

2 Action This Day $780,000

3 Friends Lake $611,000

4 Smarty Jones $600,000

5 Tapit $530,000

6 Castledale $510,000

7 Limehouse $478,405

8 Lion Heart $475,600

9 Read The Footnotes $397,860

10 Wimbledon $375,000

11 Pollard’s Vision $366,000

12 Imperialism $363,000

13 Minister Eric $350,000

14 Birdstone $327,000

15 Borrego $320,000

16 Sinister G $302,500

17 Quintons Gold Rush $258,500

18 Value Plus $252,500

19 St Averil $215,200

20 Master David $208,000

21 Preachinatthebar $159,000

22 Saratoga County $156,500

23 Fire Slam $143,000

24 Song of the Sword $132,500

25 Pro Prado $105,685

26 Tricky Taboo $100,000

27 Pomeroy $96,250

28 Eddington $95,000

29 Rock Hard Ten $90,000

30 Mustanfar $87,500

31 Skipaslew $70,000

*

Ed Fountaine’s Derby dozen

Horse, Last Race, Jockey, Trainer, Odds, Comment

1. Tapit, 1st in Wood Memorial

Ramon Dominquez Michael Dickinson

5-1

Dominguez, on first Derby mount: “I have a real chance. Some of the world’s best riders wanted to ride this horse.”

2. Smarty Jones, 1st in Arkansas Derby

Stewart Elliott John Servis

6-1

Elliott, after Ark. Derby: “When we got to the lead, he had plenty left, finished strong and galloped out good.”

3. The Cliff’s Edge, 1st in Blue Grass

Shane Sellers Nick Zito

8-1

Sellers, after Blue Grass: “I wasn’t gonna take his game away from him regardless of how the track was playing.”

4. Lion Heart, 2nd in Blue Grass

Mike Smith Patrick Biancone

10-1

Will train up to Derby at Keeneland; only Derby starter who plans to race without Lasix.

5. Master David, 2nd in Wood Memorial

Alex Solis Bobby Frankel

12-1

Hoping to follow Middleground, Carry Back, Go for Gin, Monarchos and Funny Cide as Wood runner-ups who won Derby.

6. Read the Footnotes, 5th in Florida Derby

Undecided Rick Violette

15-1

Breezed mile in 1:40 Thurs. at Palm Meadows; went 6f in 1:16.2 before coming home final quarter in :23.3.

7. Borrego, 2nd in Arkansas Derby

Victor Espinoza Beau Greely

20-1

Greely: “My horse ran huge, he was getting to the winner. We’re hoping the extra distance will make him a Derby winner.”

8. Friends Lake, 1st in Florida Derby

Rich Migliore John Kimmel

25-1

Worked 5f in 1:03 Sat. at Payson Park, out in 1:17. Kimmel: “When he came back, he wouldn’t blow out a match.”

9. Wimbledon, 5th in Santa Anita Derby

Jerry Bailey Bob Baffert

30-1

Worked bullet 5f in :58.2 Sat. at Churchill Downs. Baffert: “He really liked this surface, and that’s the key.”

10. Pollard’s Vision, 1st in Illinois Derby

John Velazquez Todd Pletcher

30-1

Son of Carson City breezed 5f in 1:01 Sun. at Keeneland, last quarter in :24; Velazquez replaces Coa in saddle.

11. Limehouse, 3rd in Blue Grass

Jose Santos Todd Pletcher

30-1

Santos, after Blue Grass: “I don’t think he liked being close to the lead. When I took him back, he responded.”

12. Quintons Gold Rush, 1st in Lexington

Undecided Steve Asmussen

30-1

Came off fourth in SA Derby to win Lexington under Bailey, but needs new rider Derby Day; P Val a possibility.