2018 Kentucky Derby Post Positions and Odds

The 144th running of the Kentucky Derby is Saturday but many believe the race can be won or lost on Tuesday. Why you might ask? Because in a field of 20 horses, post position draw is key to navigate the mile and a quarter around the Churchill Downs oval. Although the run to the first turn is a long one, certain post positions are better than others.

The best? Post position number 5, which has a winning percentage of 11.4% and was the same post last years Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming broke from. Second is post number 10, which has a winning percentage of 11.1 but it has been 13 years since the long shot Giacamo won from post 10.

The worst... Post number 17. No one has ever won breaking from post 17 (also the Kentucky derby started using the extended starting gate in 1972, which holds post 16-20). Although the numbers won't prove it, most trainers will tell you that post number 1 is not one they are hoping for. The way the starting gate sits, it actually is behind the rail which forces the jockey to either send is horse early or forced to sit back in a tough position.

For many owners and trainers, Tuesday could be the day for optimism or the day of doom. So without further ado... The 144th Kentucky Derby draw with Morning Line Odds.

Horse                                Trainer                      Odds
1: Firenze Fire                  Jason Servis               50-1
2: Free Drop Billy             Dale Romans              30-1
3: Promises Fulfilled        Dale Romans              30-1
4: Flame Away                 Mark Casse                 30-1
5: Audible                         Todd Pletcher               8-1
6: Good Magic                 Chad Brown                 12-1
7: Justify                          Bob Baffart                    3-1 (ML Favorite)
8: Lone Sailor                 Tom Amoss                  50-1
9: Hofburg                       Bill Mott                         20-1
10: My Boy Jack              Keith Desormeaux       30-1
11: Bolt D'Oro                 Mick Ruis                      8-1
12: Enticed                     Kiaran McLaughlin        30-1
13: Bravazo                    D Wayne Lukas            50-1
14: Mendelssohn (IRE)   Adian O' Brien               5-1
15: Instilled Regard        Jerry Hollendorfer          50-1
16: Magnum Moon         Todd Pletcher                 6-1
17: Solomini                   Bob Baffart                    30-1
18: Vino Rosso              Todd Pletcher                12-1
19: Noble Indy                Todd Pletcher                30-1
20: Combatant               Steve Asmussen           50-1
AE: Blended Citizen      Doug O' Neill                  50-1