starting gate

In fact, only 20 of them make the starting gate and you only get one chance — when they are a 3-year-old.

Citizen Bull will have enough points to make the starting gate, while Barnes, a $3.2-million purchase, will be left at home.

Even finishing last in Saturday’s race will bring him more points, most assuredly gaining him a spot in the Derby starting gate.

The Kentucky Derby picture got more muddled after the penultimate series of races to determine which horses will make the starting gate at Churchill Downs on May 3.

The way he sees it, his team has only earned a spot at the starting gate.