Bob Neumeier

With days before the big one at Churchill Downs, here is what you need to know about the top 20 horses ranked by graded earnings. The official Kentucky Derby lineup will be revealed mid-week, but the vast majority will be off and running Saturday.

Despite his modest breeding, California-bred Brother Derek rates in the top three or four. When a two-year-old is purchased for $275,000 from a sire (Benchmark, son of Alydar) that stands for a puny $10,000 stud fee, you had to know this was a special horse. Since then, he has won six races in eight starts, the past four in succession, and rung more than $1 million in purse winnings for Canadian owner Cecil Peacock.

For those without a specific dog in the fight, this horse will attract his share of supporters because of sentimental storylines. Trainer Dan Hendricks was paralyzed from the waist down in a motorcycle accident, and classy jockey Alex Solis has an 0-14 record in the Derby — the longest winless skein in history.

For Solis to win, Brother Derek must get a cozy position into the first turn and stay away from the projected speed duel. The key will be his ability to relax and rate through the early running but on form must be given a big shot to win it all.

Relaxation is most important for the most experienced horse (14 starts) in the field — Lawyer Ron, who has won six straight. This a naturally aggressive, free-running sort that could get swallowed up in the expected hot, early pace if jockey John McKie is not careful. Despite seven wins in 14 starts, speed figure players might be willing to look elsewhere for wagering value.

Owner and breeder James Hines died in a swimming accident earlier this year, so estate manager Ron Bamberger (Lawyer Ron) calls all the shots. Trainer Bob Holthus has been at the game for decades and is looking for his first Derby win, fitting justice for a man that has dedicated his life to the game without a shred of the publicity of other high-profile conditioners.

Trainer Michael Matz has thumbed his nose at conventional wisdom in his careful preparation of the undefeated Barbero. Historians continue to hammer away on the point that no horse has won the Derby in 50 years without a final prep inside a month’s time. Barbero will canter to the gate off five weeks rest, following his gutsy win over Sharp Humor in the Florida Derby — that off an eight-week layoff. An accomplished equestrian rider, Matz is also known for rescuing two children from a fiery plane crash that he somehow survived. Like Solis, brilliant rider Edgar Prado is looking for his first Derby victory after seven attempts.

Clockers at Churchill Downs have been impressed by Barbero’s pre-race morning gallops and like Brother Derek, he would appear to need a decent stalking position in the speed mix. Sire Dynaformer typically throws horses that improve with age and distance that could play to his advantage when the front-runners begin to fade.

Daniel P. Derella / AP Trainer Bob Baffert is hoping for his fourth Kentucky Derby winner.

You will also find solid bloodlines for the Derby distance in Wood Memorial winner Bob and John. His sire is blueblood Seeking the Gold, who stands for a mere $125,000 at historic Claiborn Farm in Lexington, Ky. Owner Bob McNair of Stonerside Farm would love to win this race, after hearing complaint after complaint for drafting Mario Williams and not reggie Bush or Vince Young for his Houston Texans.

A win would also give glib trainer Bob Baffert his fourth set of Derby roses, tying him for second all-time behind Ben A. Jones. Brother Derek beat this colt by five lengths as a two-year-old in the highly rated Hollywood Futurity in mid-december and also shows two defeats to contender A.P. Warrior on the West Coast. Regardless, his grinding style could give jockey Garrett Gomez the opportunity to mow down the tiring leaders and fend off the late chargers.

Baffert will also saddle the most intriguing horse in the Derby lineup — Sinister Minister. This horse absolutely “freaked’ in the Blue Grass at Keeneland, rocketing to an early lead and extending the margin from there. That annihilation of a decent field earned the horse the top speed figure of any Derby prep race, but most analysts doubt it could possibly be duplicated.

If he comes close to that run, all others will be vying for second and third. On paper, his electrifying early gas should guarantee a lightning pace, unless the gargantuan recent race has knocked him for a loop. But Baffert’s War Emblem won under similar circumstances (frontrunner off monster prep race) in the 2002 edition with jockey Victor Espinoza. Sinister Minister’s rider? You guessed it — Victor Espinoza.

Private Vow also will help insure a fast pace. The dynamic two-year-old has been disappointing to win-machine trainer Steve Asmussen in his preps. Clobbered by seven lengths in his 2006 comeback race by Lawyer Ron, he ran markedly better in his second try — the Arkansas Derby.

Is there room for further improvement? Sure, but a Derby win would be a surprise given all of the other early-speed types that will be in the lineup. While trainer Asmussen has never won the big one, he is extremely dangerous with any horse at any level. Under-rated rider Shaun Bridgemohan makes his Derby debut in this spot.

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Owner Stan Fulton reached into his wallet and pulled out a cool $1.3 million in September of 2004 to purchase A.P..Warrior.  After taking only two of his first six starts, Fulton pulled the plug on then-trainer Eoin Harty and sent him to the shedrow of John Shirreffs of Giacomo fame. The switch paid immediate dividends when the son of A.P. Indy whipped Point Determined and Bob and John in the San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita.

But that party ended quickly, when Brother Derek toyed with him in the paceless Santa Anita Derby. But there are those that believe he can and will run forever off classic bloodlines, if he gets the favorable pace scenario in Louisville. You can bet that pilot Corey Nakatani (0-for-12 in Derby) will not be chasing Derek, as he was forced to do in the Santa Anita Derby. As for the unassuming Shirriffs, a win would give him a  perfect 2-for-2 and only two others have pulled that off that feat.

If there is a true underdog, it's Sweetnorthernsaint. For openers, his breeding suggests a Tuesday afternoon claiming race at Anywhere USA Downs. His sire stands for $3,500 a pop — lunch money for the bluebloods of Kentucky. He was gelded after his debut, hardly the path of Derby winners (Funny Cide, the obvious exception). After he was trounced by 24 lengths on the turf in his debut, he was dropped into a maiden-40k claimer but someone knew something — he won by 16 open lengths at 8-5 odds.

Since then, his only loss was a wide third to Like Now in the highly-rated Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct in New York. Speed figure types love this horse and figure to get a square price at the windows when breeding snobs turn up their nose. After oversleeping for a key recent workout, jockey kent Desormeaux will be highly motivated to work out a clean trip for a horse that should be in the mix as they turn for home.

If you like early speed, say hello to Sharp Humor. Shrewd conditioner Dale Romans has sent out the clarion call — catch us if you can. That comment was quickly countered by Bob Baffert, who asked, “does he think he can run with Sinister Minister?”

Originally thought of as a sprinter, Sharp Humor earned high grades for his gutsy second to undefeated Barbero in the Florida Derby at nine furlongs. Like Asmussen, all Romans does is win races from one track to the next and would love to break through in his native Kentucky. Sire Distorted Humor has quietly moved up the breeding charts as a stud that can produce speed and stamina. It is that latter that will be put to the test on Derby day.

In stark contrast to Sweetnorthernsaint and Brother Derek, Bluegrass Cat hails from the upper crust of the breeding industry. At $500,000 a serving, sire Storm Cat is the most popular and desired stallion in North America, but he is looking for his first Derby winner.

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