Thursday, April 30, 2015

Field Set for 141st Kentucky Derby - Post Positions and Opening Odds

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The 141st Kentucky Derby post is set for 6:25 p.m. ET on Saturday under the famed twin spires of Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Here is a full look at the draw positions.

PP
Horse
Jockey
Trainer
Odds
1
Ocho Ocho Ocho
Elvis Trujillo
Jim Cassidy
50/1
2
Carpe Diem
John Velazquez
Todd Pletcher
8/1
3
Materiality
Javier Castellano
Todd Pletcher
12/1
4
Tencendur
Manny Franco
George Weaver
30/1
5
Danzig Moon
Julien Leparoux
Mark Casse
30/1
6
MubTaaqhij
Christophe Soumillion
Mike de Kock
20/1
7
El Kabeir
Calvin Borel
John Terranova II
30/1
8
Dortmund
Martin Garcia
Bob Baffert
3/1
9
Bolo
Rafael Bejarano
Carla Gaines
30/1
10
Firing Line
Gary Stevens
Simon Callaghan
12/1
11
Stanford
Florent Geroux
Todd Pletcher
30/1
12
International Star
Miguel Mena
Mike Maker
20/1
13
Itsaknockout
Luis Saez
Todd Pletcher
30/1
14
Keen Ice
Kent Desormeaux
Dale Romans
50/1
15
Frosted
Joel Rosario
Kiaran McLaughlin
15/1
16
War Story
Joe Talamo
Tom Amoss
50/1
17
Mr. Z
Ramon Vazquez
D. Wayne Lukas
50/1
18
American Pharoah
Victor Espinoza
Bob Baffert
5/2
19
Upstart
Jose Ortiz
Rick Violette Jr.
15/1
20
Far Right
Mike Smith
Ron Moquett
30/1






With a deep field for the 2015 Kentucky Derby, the always-important post draw was of even more importance this year. Posts five through eight are historically home to the most Derby winners, while all the jockeys and trainers hope to avoid the dreaded No. 1 gate. The two favorites in the race -- American Pharoah and Dortmund -- were both able to do that. Dortmund will start from the No. 8 post while American Pharoah will start from the No. 18 post.



The draw might most important to American Pharoah and Dortmund, a pair of 3-year-olds guided by trainer Bob Baffert. Sired by 2008 Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown contender Big Brown, 



Dortmund has won all six races he's entered, including the Grade I Santa Anita Derby earlier this month. American Pharoah, sired by 2009 Kentucky Derby second-place finisher Pioneer of The Nile, has won four times, including at the Grade I Arkansas Stakes on April 11. American Pharoah will have a challenge starting near the outside, but could have received a worse draw by getting stuck on the rail. Dortmund, meanwhile, received an excellent draw with the No. 8 post, which is historically a strong starting post.



Others to keep a watch on include Materiality, winner of the Grade I Florida Derby and trained by Todd Pletcher; Carpe Diem, winner of the Grade I Blue Grass Stakes; and Upstart, who finished second in the Florida Derby. Carpe Diem will start from the No. 2 post and will need a good start to avoid getting pinned inside.



The dreaded No. 1 post was the last to come off the board, with Ocho Ocho Ocho receiving the challenge..

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