Derby Trial the fallback plan for Teuflesberg

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Trainer Jamie Sanders entered Teuflesberg in Saturday's Derby Trial Stakes at Churchill Downs, where he would run if it appears he is going to be excluded from an oversubscribed Kentucky Derby the following Saturday. If there are defections from the Derby field before Saturday, Teuflesberg would be scratched from the Derby Trial in favor of the Derby, Sanders said.

The Derby is limited to the top 20 entrants based on graded earnings. Teuflesberg, winner of the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn this winter, ranked 21st among horses being considered for the race as of midday Wednesday. One of those ahead of Teuflesberg, Lexington Stakes winner Slew's Tizzy, is likely going to bypass the Derby, his connections said Wednesday. Provided there are no more late additions to the prospect Derby lineup, that would clear the way for Teuflesberg to get into the field.

"If I can get into the Derby, I'm going to run him," Sanders said.

The one-mile Derby Trial would serve as a prep for the Preakness if Teuflesberg seems unlikely to get into the Derby, Sanders said.

Following Teuflesberg, Imawildandcrazyguy is next on the list to make the field.