The Kentucky Derby starting post positions were set earlier this evening. Betting favorite Nyquist was assigned the #13 position in the draw and established as a 3-1 choice on the ‘morning line’ opening odds set by Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia. The post positions with jockey assignments and morning line odds are as follows:
1. Trojan Nation, A. Gryder, 50-1
2. Suddenbreakingnews, L. Quinonez, 20-1
3. Creator, R. Santana, 10-1
4. Mo Tom, C. Lanerie, 20-1
5. Gun Runner, F. Geroux, 10-1
6. My Man Sam, I. Ortiz, 20-1
7. Oscar Nominated, J. Leparoux, 50-1
8. Lani, Y. Take, 30-1
9. Destin, J. Castellano, 15-1
10. Whitmore, V. Espinoza, 20-1
11. Exaggerator, K. Desormeaux, 8-1
12. Tom’s Ready, B. Hernandez, 30-1
13. Nyquist, M. Gutierez, 3-1
14. Mohaymen, J. Alvarado, 10-1
15. Outwork, J. Velazquez, 15-1
16. Shagaf, J. Rosario, 20-1
17. Mor Spirit, G. Stevens, 12-1
18. Majesto, E. Jaramillo, 30-1
19. Brody’s Cause, L. Saez, 12-1
20. Danzing Candy, M. Smith, 15-1
Nyquist and Mohaymen tangled once in the Florida Derby with the current favorite coming out on top. They’ll face off once again in the Kentucky Derby and have been assigned adjacent gate positions with Mohaymen starting in the #14 position. As for Nyquist, trainer Doug O’Neill was generally happy with the #13 gate assignment but he’s wondering about how all of the speed to his horse’s outside will react: “The most interesting thing is Danzing Candy in the 20 hole. Is he going to send hard to try and clear? If he does, that may affect his energy late. If he doesn’t send hard, is that going to make us make the lead? Prior to this, we kind of wanted to be outside all these horses. We’re not, but still, the 13 hole is a great hole.”
One of the more intriguing horses in the field is Exaggerator, winner of the Santa Anita Derby. An interesting note about Exaggerator–he’s trained by Keith Desormeaux and will be ridden by jockey Kent Desormeaux. Should he win they will become the first brother team to win the Kentucky Derby. On one hand, Exaggerator has been beaten by Nyquist three times in his career. On the other, he’s proven his ability to deal with an ‘off track’ as he won the Santa Anita Derby in the slop. He’s also a versatile horse meaning that he can adjust to whatever form the race takes.
Exaggerator might have been the biggest beneficiary from a rainy, muddy Kentucky Derby. For now, that doesn’t look to be in the offing with race day weather calling for partly cloudy skies and a humid 85 degree temperature.