Kentucky Derby Post Position Comments

MO DONEGAL  (Post 1, 10-1), CHARGE IT (Post 8, 20-1), PIONEER OF MEDINA (Post 11, 30-1) – Trainer Todd Pletcher: “I think the new gate (which brings the inside horses farther off the rail) should work to Mo Donegal’s advantage. He’s got some experience in there; he just won the Wood Memorial from the one hole. He’s used to having dirt in his face and I’d hope that Irad (Ortiz Jr.) could save some ground around that first turn and get us in a good spot. He’s one of the few horses in my barn that I think could handle a spot like that. The other two – Charge It and Pioneer of Medina – I’m happy with their posts.”

HAPPY JACK  (Post 2, 30-1) – Trainer Doug O’Neill: “It is good. We’re happy. I think that new gate makes it better for the horses inside. We remain optimistic.”

EPICENTER  (Post 3, 7-2) – Trainer Steve Asmussen: “It matches his favorite colors (referring to the Asmussen’s barn color and saddle towel color of blue). Like any race, you want to get away nicely from the gate and go from there. How long he stands in there, how long it takes to load, 150,000 people staring at him – it’s a lot. Joel is very confident in rhythm of the horse. So, if he is away cleanly Joel will let him be who he is.”

SMILE HAPPY  (Post 5, 20-1), TIZ THE BOMB (Post 9, 30-1) – Trainer Kenny McPeek: “I’m real pleased with both Smile Happy in the five and Tiz the Bomb in the nine. I wanted to be inside Zandon, and that happened. They’ll be fine, in both their spots.

MESSIER  (Post 6, 8-1), TAIBA (Post 12, 12-1) – Trainer Tim Yakteen: “They made us wait (said in jest, Messier and Taiba were among the last three horses chosen.) But in the end we drew well.”

CROWN PRIDE  (JPN) (Post 7, 20-1) – Trainer Koichi Shintani: “We’re very happy with lucky number seven. And the Derby is on May 7.”

ZANDON  (Post 10, 3-1) – Trainer Chad Brown: “Perfect. We’re ready to go.”

BARBER  ROAD (Post 14, 30-1) – Trainer John Oritz: “I’m very happy with the post. I don’t feel like I have any pressure on me. Barber Road and Reylu (Gutierrez) have to do all the running. I think being out towards the middle of the racetrack gives us a good chance to see how the race shapes up going into the first turn. From there, we just have to navigate through traffic and Barber Road and Reylu have to do their job.”

WHITE  ABARRIO (Post 15, 10-1) – Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.: “Everything’s good so far, we like our post. We’re very thankful for where we drew. It’s a good spot, most definitely, now he just has to break well and run his race.”

CYBERKNIFE  (Post 16, 20-1), TAWNY PORT (Post 18, 30-1), ZOZOS (Post 19, 20-1) – Trainer Brad Cox: “I’m happy with all three draws. I think with the Derby starting at the head of the stretch, and a quarter of a mile to the first turn, they’ll be able to get into position.”