In The Know : Post Positions for Oaks and Derby
Post Positions for the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks
Post Positions determine where the contender will be in relation to the rail, with Post Position #1 closest to the rail. To learn more about why Post Positions are important, check out the scoop below the post positions for the Kentucky Derby and the post positions for the Kentucky Oaks.
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Kentucky Derby Post Positions
Running 1 1/8 miles on dirt for a $1.24 million purse, the 2013 Kentucky Derby race is set for Saturday, May 4, at Louisville's Churchill Downs®. Post positions for the 139th running on May 4, 2013 will be determined closer to the first Saturday in May.
POST POSITION DRAW – The 2013 Kentucky Derby Post Position Draw – a traditional “pill pull” in which horses’ entry blanks are pulled simultaneously with a numbered pill to determine what stall a horse will break from the starting gate – was held at Churchill Downs on Wednesday, May 1, 2013, at 5 p.m. ET (Live on NBC Sports Network).
Last Updated 5-3-2013 12:45pm EST
|
POST |
HORSE |
TRAINER |
JOCKEY |
ML ODDS |
|
|
1 |
Black Onyx (Scratched) |
K. Breen |
J. Bravo |
50-1 |
|
|
2 |
Oxbow |
D.W. Lukas |
G. Stevens |
30-1 |
|
|
3 |
Revolutionary |
T. Pletcher |
C. Borel |
10-1 |
|
|
4 |
Golden Soul |
D. Stewart |
R. Albarado |
50-1 |
|
|
5 |
Normandy Invasion |
C. Brown |
J. Castellano |
12-1 |
|
|
6 |
Mylute |
T. Amoss |
R. Napravnik |
15-1 |
|
|
7 |
Giant Finish |
T. Dutrow |
J. Espinoza |
50-1 |
|
|
8 |
Goldencents |
D. O'Neill |
K. Krigger |
5-1 |
|
|
9 |
Overanalyze |
T. Pletcher |
R. Bejarano |
15-1 |
|
|
10 |
Palace Malice |
T. Pletcher |
M. Smith |
20-1 |
|
|
11 |
Lines of Battle |
A. O'Brien |
R. Moore |
30-1 |
|
|
12 |
Itsmyluckyday |
E. Plesa Jr. |
E. Trujillo |
15-1 |
|
|
13 |
Falling Sky |
J. Terranova II |
L. Saez |
50-1 |
|
|
14 |
Verrazano |
T. Pletcher |
J. Velazquez |
4-1 |
|
|
15 |
Charming Kitten |
T. Pletcher |
E. Prado |
20-1 |
|
|
16 |
Orb |
C. McGaughey |
J. Rosario |
7-2 |
|
|
17 |
Will Take Charge |
D.W. Lukas |
J. Court |
20-1 |
|
|
18 |
Frac Daddy |
K. McPeek |
V. Lebron |
50-1 |
|
|
19 |
Java's War |
K. McPeek |
J. Leparoux |
15-1 |
|
|
20 |
Vyjack |
R. Rodriguez |
G. Gomez |
15-1 |
Up to 24 horses may enter the race and four horses can be listed as “also eligible” and would be ranked in order accordingly; they could draw into the field should any horse(s) be scratched before scratch time on Friday, May 3, 2013 at 9 a.m. ET.
Kentucky Oaks Post Positions
Running 1 1/8 miles on dirt for a $1 million purse, the 2013 Kentucky Oaks race is set for Friday, May 3, at Louisville's Churchill Downs®. Post positions will be determined closer to the first Saturday in May.
POST POSITION DRAW – The 2013 Kentucky Oaks Post Position Draw –
| POST | HORSE | TRAINER | JOCKEY | ML ODDS | |
| 1 | Silsita | T. Pletcher | G. Stevens | 20-1 | |
| 2 | Midnight Lucky | B. Baffert | R. Bejarano | 9-2 | |
| 3 | Beholder | R. Mandella | G. Gomez | 7-2 | |
| 4 | Unlimited Budget | T. Pletcher | J. Castellano | 7-2 | |
| 5 | Seaneen Girl | B. Flint | R. Napravnik | 30-1 | |
| 6 | Princess of Sylmar | T. Pletcher | M. Smith | 20-1 | |
| 7 | Pure Fun | K. McPeek | J. Leparoux | 30-1 | |
| 8 | Dreaming of Julia | T. Pletcher | J. Velazquez | 3-1 | |
| 9 | Rose to Gold | S. Santoro | C. Borel | 15-1 | |
| 10 | Flashy Gray | W. Mott | J. Alvarado | 15-1 | |
| 11 | Close Hatches | W. Mott | J. Rosario | 6-1 |
Why do Post Positions Matter in Horse Racing?
Some analysts believe that a contenders' chances of winning are partially dictated by where they'll
Statistically, horses that start the race closer to the rail have historically won more often. In every race, all contenders will be vying for the rail position around the track, knowing that the farther from the rail a horse is, the more ground it has to cover to get to the same spot.
So what is the strategy to getting closer to the rail? The best bet is if a contender draws a post position on the rail. Drawing that number one position can also have it's downside. Though they have less ground to cover, they also run the risk of being squeezed down the front-stretch, losing position and having to back-off going into the first turn and will spend the remainder of the race competing for the coveted inside track. Contenders that are posted farther away from the rail must gain ground in the opening stretch to secure the inside rail position so they will need to be ready to dash at the start of the race to remain competitive. Since the starting line begins on a straight-away, the horses in the first 10 post positions have a much better shot at using their straight-line speed to break away and secure the inside rail position.
Of course there is much more than Post Positions that can effect the outcome of the winning contender. To find out what some of those factors are, check out the tips and insights from our Derby Experts!
