LOUISVILLE, Ky. – After a couple of weeks of indecision, Attachment Rate has been confirmed as a starter for the 146th Kentucky Derby next Saturday. “My mind was actually made up when he was cooling out after his last race,” in the Aug. 9 Runhappy Ellis Park Derby, trainer Dale Romans said Thursday morning from New York. “It just took a little arm-twisting to convince the owners to head that way. They’d been on the fence.” Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister are partners in Attachment Rate, an improving Hard Spun colt who earned a career-high 95 Beyer Speed Figure when second by 3 1/4 lengths to Art Collector in the Ellis Derby. The colt trained for the first time in the yellow saddle towel given to all Derby starters going through a routine gallop Thursday morning. :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2020: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more Romans and the owners had seriously considered the Pat Day Mile on the Derby undercard as an alternate spot before agreeing to roll the dice. “He’s come out of the Ellis Derby in really good shape,” said Romans, a lifelong Louisville resident whose best results from 10 prior Derby starters are third-place finishes from Paddy O’Prado (2010) and Dullahan (2012). “Obviously we’ll be a longshot, but I really think this horse fits.” Joe Talamo, on the verge of being the leading jockey at the current Ellis Park meet in his first full year of riding the Kentucky circuit, has the call on Attachment Rate. This will be Talamo’s third Derby mount, following Sidney’s Candy (17th in 2010) and War Story (16th in 2015). Entries for the Derby will be drawn Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs. As many as the 20-horse limit is expected, although it’s uncertain that 20 will start. Todd Pletcher has not fully committed Dr Post, and Michael McCarthy is far more likely to run Rushie in the Pat Day Mile than in the Derby. McPeek ‘keeping it light’ Swiss Skydiver trained in a yellow Derby saddle towel Thursday morning, but only because trainer Kenny McPeek was in a playful mood. The filly definitely will run Friday in the Kentucky Oaks as second choice to Gamine. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount. “We wanted to lighten it up a little bit,” said McPeek. Swiss Skydiver not only earned by far the most qualifying points among Oaks starters, but she also got 40 Derby points when running second to Art Collector last month in the Blue Grass Stakes. She therefore merited a Derby towel. “We figured we’d make it a collector’s item, and it’d be worthless if we didn’t actually use it at least once,” said McPeek. Oaks entries will be drawn Monday. As many as 11 fillies are expected.