Most Derby victories, by post positions
PP Wins Last time
1 12 1986 (Ferdinand)
5 12 2003 (Funny Cide)
10 10 2005 (Giacomo)
4 10 1977 (Seattle Slew)
2 9 1978 (Affirmed)
3 8 1998 (Real Quiet)
8 8 1994 (Go For Gin)

Brother Derek, trained by Dan Hendricks, will attempt to become the first horse bred in California to win Saturday’s Derby since Decidedly in 1962. The colt is 3-for-3 this year and coming off a victory in the Santa Anita Derby.

Baffert, seeking his fourth Derby win, will send out Wood Memorial winner Bob and John, Blue Grass Stakes winner Sinister Minister and Santa Anita Derby runner-up Point Determined.

Official odds and post positions will be determined live on ESPN at 5 p.m. ET Wednesday.

Among others entered were Showing Up, the Lexington Stakes winner trained by Barclay Tagg, who sent out Funny Cide to win the Derby in 2003. Tagg’s decision to enter Wednesday — after being satisfied a minor injury to the colt had healed — denied Sunriver of being included in the field limited to 20 starters based on graded stakes earnings.

The field, in order of post-position selection, is: A.P. Warrior, Bob and John, Sharp Humor, Barbaro, Showing Up, Point Determined, Deputy Glitters, Private Vow, Bluegrass Cat, Steppenwolfer, Sinister Minister, Seaside Retreat, Sweetnorthernsaint, Cause to Believe, Lawyer Ron, Brother Derek, Storm Treasure, Flashy Bull, Keyed Entry and Jazil.

While Baffert has three entries, three other trainers have two horses in the field — Todd Pletcher trains Bluegrass Cat and Keyed Entry (he also trains left-out Sunriver); Steve Asmussen has Private Vow and Storm Treasure and Kiaran McLaughlin has Jazil and Flashy Bull.

For the first time, an owner will send out two unbeaten horses in the same Derby — Gretchen and Roy Jackson’s Lael Farm owns Showing Up, who is 3-for-3, and Barbaro, who is 5-for-5.

Since the 20-horse rule began in 1984, the race went off with the maximum field only once — last year in Giacomo’s victory at 50-1 odds. There have been 19 starters five times under the rule, most recently in 2000.

Sunriver was ranked 21st on the graded stakes earnings list, while others who failed to make the field were Lewis Michael and Hemingway’s Key.

Absent from this year’s Derby will be Hall of Fame trainers D. Wayne Lukas, a four-time winner, and Nick Zito, a two-time winner who sent out five horses in last year’s race.

Jerardi, who has covered horse racing for the Daily News for 20 years, won in the Advance division for the first time for a story that appeared May 7 headlined “Another Philadelphia story at Derby,” focusing on the owners of Afleet Alex. He previously won in the Monday Wrap-up division in 1987, 1991 and 1997.

He is the second Daily News writer to win the award four times. Stan Hochman won the feature title in 1984, and Monday Wrap-up honors in 1985, 1986 and 1988.

Other winners were Greg Hall, of the Courier-Journal, Louisville, Ky., in the Feature division; Courier-Journal colleague Jennie Rees in Sunday Wrap-up; and Steve Haskin, of the Blood-Horse, a trade magazine, in the Monday Wrap-up category.

Winners receive an engraved silver equine-themed serving tray at the annual National Turf Writers Association Awards Dinner tonight in Mineola, N.Y.

Jerardi, who has covered horse racing for the Daily News for 20 years, won in the Advance division for the first time for a story that appeared May 7 headlined “Another Philadelphia story at Derby,” focusing on the owners of Afleet Alex. He previously won in the Monday Wrap-up division in 1987, 1991 and 1997.

He is the second Daily News writer to win the award four times. Stan Hochman won the feature title in 1984, and Monday Wrap-up honors in 1985, 1986 and 1988.

Other winners were Greg Hall, of the Courier-Journal, Louisville, Ky., in the Feature division; Courier-Journal colleague Jennie Rees in Sunday Wrap-up; and Steve Haskin, of the Blood-Horse, a trade magazine, in the Monday Wrap-up category.

Winners receive an engraved silver equine-themed serving tray at the annual National Turf Writers Association Awards Dinner tonight in Mineola, N.Y.

The 2006 Derby logo, created for the fourth consecutive year by the Churchill Downs Inc. Creative Services team, incorporates traditional Derby colors of red and green and prominently displays the number 132 and a signature red rose embedded in the name of the event.

The logo will adorn officially licensed merchandise for the 2006 Kentucky Derby.

“The unveiling of our 2006 Derby logo is a wonderful moment as it unofficially launches the countdown to the 132nd running of the Kentucky Derby, the greatest event in Thoroughbred racing and one of the premier sports events in the world,” said Steve Sexton, president of Churchill Downs. “The occasion is even more notable this year as this logo will be included on the first officially licensed Kentucky Derby products that will be marketed and distributed through our relationship with Licensing Partners International. The sale of officially licensed Kentucky Derby merchandise has displayed steady growth in recent years and the expertise and experience that LPI brings to that program will help Derby fans everywhere enjoy these products and create great new Kentucky Derby memories.”