Sections

Kentucky Derby field set; Bodemeister the favorite at 4-1



PP
Horse
Jockey

Odds
1
Daddy Long Legs
Colm O'Donoghue
Aidan O'Brien
30-1
2
Optimizer
Jon Court
D. Wayne Lukas
50-1
3
Take Charge Indy
Calvin Borel
Patrick Byrne
15-1
4
Union Rags
Julien Leparoux
Michael Matz
9-2
5
Dullahan
Kent Desormeaux
Dale Romans
8-1
6
Bodemeister
Mike Smith
Bob Baffert
4-1
7
Rousing Sermon
Jose Lezcano
Jerry Hollendorfer
50-1
8
Creative Cause
Joel Rosario
Mike Harrington
12-1
9
Trinniberg
Willie Martinez
Bisnath Parboo
50-1
10
Daddy Nose Best
Garrett Gomez
Steve Asmussen
15-1
11
Alpha
Rajiv Maragh
Kiaran McLaughlin
15-1
12
Prospective
Luis Contrerars
Mark Casse
30-1
13
Went the Day Well
John Velazquez
Graham Motion
20-1
14
Hansen
Ramon Dominguez
Michael Maker
10-1
15
Gemologist
Javier Castellano
Todd Pletcher
6-1
16
El Padrino
Rafael Bejarano
Todd Plethcer
20-1
17
Done Talking
Sheldon Russell
Hamilton Smith
50-1
18
Sabercat
Corey Nakatani
Steve Asmussen
30-1
19
I'll Have Another
Mario Gutierrez
Doug O'Neill
12-1
20
Liaison
Martin Garcia
Bob Baffert
50-1




It’s debatable just how much the Kentucky Derby post position draw really means.   Most trainers had their preferences as to being on the inside or outside, but the only overall consensus was to just stay away from post #1.  That tricky number was awarded to Daddy Long Legs, which immediately resulted in applause from team Hansen. They were then left with the final pill #14.  That post appears to be excellent for the Juvenile champion seeing as he will have the other speed horses Trinniberg, Take Charge Indy, and Bodemeister to his inside.  Some may have felt Calvin Borel would try to keep Take Charge Indy off of the early lead, but by drawing post #3 the most logical tactic would be to break clean and stay out of trouble by heading towards the front.

Alpha received perhaps the least ideal post for himself in slot #11, where he will be the first to load in the gate simultaneously with Daddy Long Legs.  Those two will then have to wait for the other 18 entrants to get situated, and it’s well-known that Alpha has had issues with acting up in the gate.  The son of Bernardini needs to prove he has overcome that fear on Saturday. 

Bodemeister was given the honor of morning line favorite for the Kentucky Derby at 4-1 odds.  Just weeks earlier many believed the favorite could be as high as 7-1 considering all of the equal prospects in the field.  He impressed onlookers at Churchill Downs over the weekend when he breezed, as did 9/2 second favorite Union Rags.  He will break from post 4, a spot trainer Michael Matz did not seem real excited about considering the inside positioning.  The colt did not look comfortable when forced to the inside in the Florida Derby.

The position draw did bring its fair share of notable quotes and occurrences.  Dr. Hansen insisted he thought his horse should be the 3-1 favorite despite his 1 for 3 record in wins as a 3-year-old.  Bodemeister’s owner Ahmed Zayat made a point to seek out the connections of I’ll Have Another to tell them what a fan he was of the Santa Anita Derby winner.  Most trainers of top contenders were satisfied with their position. A full rundown of reactions can be read below in the links section.

Quite a bit of activity during training hours and along the backside Wednesday, but no new major developments or rumors.  There were several raised eyebrows from those who heard Creative Cause walked the shed row for the second consecutive day, but that’s apparently the normal routine according to trainer Mike Harrington// Dullahan was full of himself and very eager on the track// Hansen finally arrived to Churchill Downs from nearby Trackside Training Center, so all Derby horses are now on the grounds// D. Wayne Lukas seems to finally admit he may have a second-tier horse in Optimizer.  The 4-time Derby winning trainer calls this year’s Derby contingent “a hell of group”// For observations on all contenders on the track Wednesday check out the Mike Welsch video below. He singles out Gemologist, Union Rags, and Trinniberg as looking impressive// more…





Kentucky Derby News, Interviews, and Opinion
Draw Quotes (Churchill Downs)
Barn Notes 5/2 (Churchill Downs)
On location [videos] (Bloodhorse)
Take Charge, Patrick (Courier Journal)
Derby never gets old for D. Wayne Lukas (Lexington Herald Leader)