Kentucky Derby Post Positions 2012: Intriguing Contenders with Solid Draws

The waiting, as they say, is the hardest part. 

The Kentucky Derby is only a couple days off, but that only makes the anticipation all the more difficult to deal with. 

At least we have a great deal of debate to take us into the weekend. The posts were drawn on Wednesday, giving us the order the horses will get into the gates. Now, we can further handicap these thoroughbreds and get some semblance of what we might see on Saturday. 

First, the odds and post. 

Odds taken from KentuckyDerby.info, updated May 3rd. 

A full list of the post positions can be found at Official Kentucky Derby Page. 

Post	Horse	Odds
1.	Daddy Long Legs	30/1
2.	Optimizer	50/1
3.	Take Charge Indy	10/1
4.	Union Rags	9/2
5.	Dullahan	8/1
6.	Bodemeister	4/1
7.	Rousing Sermon	50/1
8.	Creative Cause	12/1
9.	Trinniberg	50/1
10.	Daddy Nose Best	15/1
11.	Alpha	15/1
12.	Prospective	30/1
13.	Went The Day Well	20/1
14.	Hansen	10/1
15.	Gemologist	6/1
16.	El Padrino	20/1
17.	Done Talking	50/1
18.	Sabercat	30/1
19.	I'll Have Another	12/1
20.	Liaison	50/1

Note: My Adonis is the alternate and will feature if anything happens to one of the horses prior to 9 a.m. ET on Friday 

1. Bodemeister: 4/1

Bodemeister wasn't the big winner of the post draw, but he has a great position to start for his speed and ability. 

The fact that he will be on the outside of a star-studded scuffle is key going into Saturday. Union Rags and Dullahan guarantee that we will all be keyed into the inside at the start of Saturday. The horse that has the best chance of winning that bout is Bodemeister. 

Six winners have come from the No. 6 post, making Bodemeister all the more intriguing as a contender. 

2. Gemologist: 6/1 

The No. 15 post isn't the most ideal start, but I am intrigued given the speed and size of Gemologist. There is a reason that he is still going off at 6/1 despite the drawing, and that's his undefeated record. 

Sure, he was hardly ever tested in those races, but I think the 15 is the perfect draw for such a horse. It gives him time to get out in front of the field and control the race—exactly what he is used to doing. 

3. Dullahan: 8/1 

Here is an interesting one.

Dullahan draws the prized fifth spot, but he is sandwiched between two contenders that are poised and ready to get after it from the start. 

Union Rags and Bodemeister mean there is no time to get into a comfort zone. Dullahan wasn't going to get out in front anyway, looking instead to make a late break. So, this draw may work out for the best, as he can keep an eye on the two stoutest thoroughbreds. 

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