Louisville - Following the lead of the NFL and the NBA drafts, the Kentucky Derby draw has been turned into a media event. Every circus needs another sideshow, and ESPN gave the pill pull the full treatment Wednesday evening before a "studio" audience of about 1,500 at the Churchill Downs Sports Spectrum, a state of the art simulcasting palace.

Chris Lincoln was the master of ceremonies for the first evening Derby draw, which served as a 30-minute live lead-in to the 6:30 SportsCenter. Da-da-dat, da-da-dat! The gathering of Derby connections, horse honchos, Derby junketers, media and hangers-on witnessed a production that was part "Tonight Show" and part game show. Too bad Vanna White and Richard Dawson couldn't have been there.

"Survey says: Post 20. For your consolation prize, Mr. Unbridled's Song, you'll receive a free trip to Baltimore and a crabcake dinner. And thank you for playing Derby Draw."

My Flag looks mighty in Oaks

My Flag, who might have done some damage if trainer Shug McGaughey had entered her in the Derby, heads a strong field of six in today's 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Oaks, the fillies' Derby. Owned by Ogden Phipps, the daughter of Easy Goer will face a challenge from two stakes winners - Escena, from the Allen Paulson-Bill Mott team, and California-based Antespend, trained by Ron McAnally. ESPN will televise the Oaks live, with post time at about 5:45 p.m. A crowd of 90,000 is expected.

The introduction of the Oaks-Derby double (not available in New York) means you can hold a live ticket for 24 hours before shredding it. Donnie backstretch

Don Mattingly and his wife, Kim, visited the Churchill Downs barn area yesterday morning. Kim is showing horses in Lexington over the weekend, and her husband will not attend the Derby.

Trainer Nick Zito, a native of Ozone Park and a longtime Yankee fan, was told Mattingly was on the backstretch and asked if he could meet the former Yankee. They shook hands and Zito took the Mattinglys into his barn and showed them Derby contender Diligence, owned by George Steinbrenner. When told he and Zito had the same employer, Mattingly said, "Not anymore."

For whatever it means, Mattingly has sold his house in Tenafly, N.J. Pass the baton

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas waited until the last minute before naming Aaron Gryder to ride Honour and Glory. Lukas, who has five horses in the Derby, had named Jose Santos on both Victory Speech and Honour and Glory.

Lukas, whose horses drew post positions 2, 10, 13, 16 and 18, joked about taking a relay race approach to winning:

"Honour and Glory will lead off and then after a quarter, he'll pass the baton to Grindstone, who will hand it off to Prince of Thieves. Then, it'll be Victory Speech and Editor's Note will be left to bring it home, if he's still there. He might be a bad horse to anchor with." And that's the way it is

Walter Cronkite will be at Churchill Downs tomorrow, but a scheduling conflict will keep Hootie and the Blowfish away. What does it mean?

Next to the press box elevator is a sign for the diaper-changing station.

REPORTED BY ED McNAMARA, STEVE JACOBSON AND AP

Copyright 1996, Newsday Inc.