Entertainment

THE FIRST SATURDAY IN MAY

A labor of love by brothers John and Brad Henne gan, “The First Saturday in May” follows six trainers who are trying to defy the odds to get their horses into the 2006 Kentucky derby.

They’re an interesting group, including a dad confined to a wheelchair because of a dirt-bike accident, a trainer for the royal family of Dubai who was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and an Arkansas native in the twilight of his career.

The film starts slow but picks up momentum. In the final stretch, the great Barbaro wins the Derby by a historic margin – only to be followed by an injury in the Preakness Stakes that eventually led to the horse being destroyed.

For anyone with an interest in racing, “First Saturday” is a sure bet.

Running time: 100 minutes. At Cinema Village, 12th Street, east of Fifth Avenue.