Kentucky Derby 2012 Update: Post Positions Draw Results Are in

The most expected activity before the Kentucky Derby is the post positions draw, and it was completed a few minutes ago so the luck of the draw has been spread.

From 1998 through 2009, there was a two-tiered post position draw. This way, when horses were entered on the Wednesday before the Derby, the connections drew a number which determined the order in which they would be able to select their post positions when the draw was conducted later in the day.

Some connections didn't appreciate the fact that they had to take time twice in one day to determine the post positions.

Since 2010, the post positions draw returned to the traditional “pill pull” where horses’ entry blanks are pulled simultaneously with a number pill to determine which post a horse will break from the starting gate.

A total of 21 horses were entered before the entry box closed Wednesday morning, one more than the maximum-allowed field of 20.

The field is limited to the top 20 horses based on earnings in graded stakes races. But for the first time in history, an Alternate Entry (AE) list of up to a maximum of four horses was allowed, but today the only entrant on that list is My Adonis.

If there is any scratched horse between now and the start of the Derby wagers on Friday at 9:00 a.m., then My Adonis would move into the starting gate in post position 20. All the others would move one slot to the inside, starting from the post position of the scratched horse.

But where does your favorite break from?

Today, the first horse to be drawn was Take Charge Indy for post three. With Calvin Borel aboard, that is just two slots from the rail that Borel loves to run on.

Unbeaten Gemologist was the second drawn at post 15. This is an ideal position since this is the first from the auxiliary gate and should have no problems of interference.

Liaison was next and he drew the 20th post. That didn't make Bob Baffert happy and he let it show.

Alpha drew the 11th post. That may or may not be a very good thing for him. Posts one and 11 enter the gate first, so if Alpha has not put his gate problems behind, he will be in the gate a long time and might end up costing him.

Three of the favorites, Union Rags (fourth), Dullahan (fifth) and Bodemeister (sixth), will be posting next to each other.

There was some drama as the last two positions open were the one slot and the 14th slot. The two horses on the bag were Hansen and Daddy Long Legs. 

When the post position one was called, Dr. Kendall Hansen was expecting the call as if he were to win the lottery. When Daddy Long Legs' name was called, he let out a fist pump in celebration and a sigh of relief.

As for the changes in equipment, it was announced that Went the Day Well and Liaison would wear blinkers for the race.

The post positions are history and now it is up to us to start handicapping and making our case accordingly.

Just remember that the weather also plays a role here. It's hot and humid and expected to remain that way the rest of the weekend.

Kentucky Derby | Grade I | Purse: $2 Million | Distance: 10 furlongs | Post Time: 6:24 p.m. ET

No	Horse	Jockey	Trainer
1	Daddy Long Legs	C. O'Donoghue	A. O'Brien
2	Optimizer	J. Court	D. Wayne Lukas
3	Take Charge Indy	C. Borel	P. Byrne
4	Union Rags	J. Leparoux	M. Matz
5	Dullahan	K. Desormeaux	D. Romans
6	Bodemeister	M. Smith	B. Baffert
7	Rousing Sermon	J. Lezcano	J. Hollendorfer
8	Creative Cause	J. Rosario	M. Harrington
9	Trinniberg	W. Martinez	B. Parboo
10	Daddy Nose Best	G. Gomez	S. Asmussen
11	Alpha	R. Maragh	K. McLaughlin
12	Prospective	L. Contreras	M. Casse
13	Went the Day Well	J. Velazquez	G. Motion
14	Hansen	R. Dominguez	M. Maker
15	Gemologist	J. Castellano	T. Pletcher
16	El Padrino	R. Bejarano	T. Pletcher
17	Done Talking	S. Russell	H. Smith
18	Sabercat	C. Nakatani	S. Asmussen
19	I'll Have Another	M. Gutierrez	D. O'Neill
20	Liaison	M. Garcia	B.Baffert
AE 1	My Adonis	E. Trujillo	K. Breen

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