Commendable will be one of the horses wearing a nasal strip in Saturday's Derby.
Nasal strips assist breathing and are worn by professional athletes and snoring spouses.
The company CNS Inc. began marketing the strips for thoroughbreds last year. Because a horse breathes only through its nose, the soft outer tissue of the nasal passage can close when the animal inhales hard during strenuous exercise. The drug-free strip is attached over the horse's nostrils, held in place by a special adhesive. The strip's spring like action holds the nasal passages open so the horse does not have to struggle for breath. Another Lukas horse, Cash Run, won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.