It is only the top 20 horses by graded stakes earnings that will be in the 2012 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. The Kentucky Derby field is limited to 20 horses; if more than 20 enter, the entries are determined by the amount of graded stakes earnings each horse has accumulated.

There is still only one horse that could make it into the Top 20 with graded stakes earnings and that is Reveron (23rd). Reveron seems to be destined to be entered in the Lexington at Keeneland this Saturday. Depending on decisions made by the connections of the Top 20 connections, Reveron eventually might not need those earnings.

The first one is Hero of Order. He was not an original or late nominee to the Triple Crown. This means that his connections would be required to #1 supplement him with a $200,000 fee and the hardest part is that #2 he cannot get into the Derby field ahead of any original or late nominee.

Then there is Wrote (Sixth), Liaison (15th), Trinniberg (17th) and Rousing Sermon (21st). They are being considered by their connections on whether they will make it to the Derby or not due to their recent performances or distance concerns.

If all this happens every horse from the 22nd position (Mark Valeski) up to the 26th (Optimizer) would get a chance to make it to the starting gate. It’s all a wait-and-see moment now.

With less than 3 weeks before the Derby a lot can change before the first Saturday of May.

Here is a list of the 2012 Kentucky Derby horses by graded stakes earnings as of April 15.

Horse, Trainer, earnings
1 Hansen, Michael Maker $1,550,000
2 Daddy Long Legs, Aidan O’Brien $1,294,030
3 Union Rags, Michael Matz $1,170,000
4 Dullahan, Dale Romans $855,000
5 Creative Cause, Mike Harrington $836,000
6 Wrote (IRE), Aidan O’Brien $756,630
7 Gemologist, Todd Pletcher $703,855
8 Sabercat, Steve Asmussen $701,429
9 Take Charge Indy, Patrick Byrne $698,400
10 Secret Circle, Bob Baffert $670,000
11 Bodemeister, Bob Baffert $660,000
12 Hero of Order**, Gennadi Dorochenko $617,375
13 I’ll Have Another, Doug O’Neill $601,000
14 Daddy Nose Best, Steve Asmussen $545,558
15 Liaison, Bob Baffert $393,000
16 Alpha, Kiaran McLaughlin $380,000
17 Prospective, Mark Casse $367,327
18 Trinniberg, Bisnath Parboo $324,500
19 Done Talking, Hamilton Smith $311,000
20 Went the Day Well, Graham Motion $282,000
21 Rousing Sermon, Jerry Hollendorfer $270,000
22 Mark Valeski, Larry Jones $260,000
23 El Padrino, Todd Pletcher $250,000
24 Reveron, Agustin Bezara $220,000
25 Isn’t He Clever, Henry Dominguez $188,000
26 Optimizer, D. Wayne Lukas $184,708
27 Castaway, Bob Baffert $162,000
28 Currency Swap, Teresa Pompay $150,000
29 My Adonis, Kelly Breen $140,000
30 Brother Francis, James Cassidy $135,000
31 Battle Hardened, Eddie Kenneally $127,000
32 Genten, Yoshito Yahagi $123,826
33 Mr. Bowling, Larry Jones $115,848
34 Howe Great, Graham Motion $112,500
35 Jack’s in the Deck, Robin Graham $105,000
36 Longview Drive, Jerry Hollendorfer $102,834
37 Scatman, Michael Lauer $101,875
38 State of Play, Graham Motion $100,000
38 Morgan’s Guerilla, Michael Maker $100,000
40 Shared Property, Thomas Amoss $99,700
41 Fly Lexis Fly, Arturo Morales $99,481
42 Stirred Up, Bob Baffert $96,000
43 Blueskiesnrainbows, Bob Baffert $90,000
43 Tiger Walk, Ignacio Correas IV $90,000

** Not nominated to Triple Crown. Would require $200,000 supplement and could not get into the Derby field ahead of any original or late nominee.