The field is limited to the 20 horses with the highest earnings in major stakes races. Teuflesberg ($122,942) and Imawildandcrazyguy ($104,000) were ranked 21st and 22nd.

Entertainer Merv Griffin decided to take his colt out of the running, citing Cobalt Blue's seventh-place finish in the Illinois Derby.

"The horse is doing great," trainer Doug O'Neill said. "I talked to Merv and he thought it was in the best interest of the horse not to tax him 1 1/4 miles. So we're going to slow it down, go back to California and look for a race."

O'Neill still has two Derby horses: Great Hunter and Liquidity.

Trainer Mark Shuman told Churchill Downs officials that Xchanger was out of the race. Their places are taken by two inexpensive horses.

Teuflesberg, a $9,000 yearling purchase, most recently was fourth in the Blue Grass Stakes after setting the pace. Trainer and co-owner Jamie Sanders got a welcome call from O'Neill.

"He said, 'Jamie, you're in."' Sanders said.

Imawildandcrazyguy, a $17,000 yearling purchase, gives trainer William Kaplan two Derby horses. He'll also send out Storm In May, who is blind in one eye and cost a modest $16,000 at the yearling sales.

"For me, I never thought I'd have one in the Derby, let alone two," he said.