Churchill Downs: Titletown Five among Derby Trial candidates

Churchill Downs racing officials are expecting perhaps eight or nine starters Saturday night, when the spring meet opens with the Grade 3, $175,000 Derby Trial.

Titletown Five, the colt owned in part by football great Paul Hornung, is foremost among the prospects for the one-mile Trial, the last remaining race with Kentucky Derby qualifying points at stake. The Trial winner will earn 20 points in the new qualifying system being used to determine the Derby’s 20-horse field. Hornung and trainer D. Wayne Lukas have said they definitely would run Titletown Five in the Derby if they can get in.

Others likely from a nominations list of 61 3-year-olds for the 89th Derby Trial include Demonic, Forty Tales, Officer Alex, Ruble, Treasury Bill, and Zee Bros, with several more possible.

With Saturday’s action going deep into the evening, Churchill will not have a Sunday card. The second card of the meet is set for Tuesday.