Kentucky Derby 2012 Post Time: Horses That Will Benefit from Favorable Position

Whether you believe that a post position can make or break a horse, or simply believe that the fastest horse on any given day is the one that will win, you can't ignore that some horses and post positions are best paired together.

At this year's Kentucky Derby, that fact hasn't changed.

And while highly-regarded horses such as Bodemeister and Union Rags didn't get great draws, they still remain the odds-on favorites to win the race.

But there are several horses that found an ideal post in the Derby, and it could propel them toward glory.

Let's get to know those horses.

Hansen

The main question for Hansen won't be whether or not he can get out to a fast start and stay in contention for most of the race.

The question will be whether he'll have enough endurance in the end to finish his run.

At post 14, Hansen will have plenty of breathing room given the auxiliary gate to get out fast and start strong. Ideally, he might put enough distance between himself and the other contenders so as to hold off any late surges. In a strong field, however, that seems unlikely.

No, Hansen will have to prove he has the legs at the end to win. Luckily for him, his starting post gives him a greater chance to be a contender in the end.

Gemologist

Unlike Hansen, late endurance isn't an issue for Gemologist. In fact, it could be the difference between the two horses if they find themselves leading the pack down the stretch.

Gemologist will probably settle slightly behind Hansen and wait to pounce until the crowd clears, a viable strategy seeing as Gemologist starts next to Hansen at post 15, another beneficiary of the auxiliary gate.

Gemologist is in perfect position to run whichever race best suits it—there isn't a ton of speed outside him and he won't have to fear getting lost in the mire of the pack. Gemologist's 6-1 odds, only topped by the 4-1 for Bodemiester and 9-2 for Union Rags, seem appropriate.

Dullahan

There may not be a better closer in the Derby field than Dullahan, and his starting position at post 5 is the perfect scenario for the colt.

The fifth post is generally favored by trainers and jockeys since it is close enough to the rail to shorten the race slightly, but not so close that a horse risks getting squeezed to the rail as the horses make their sprint inside.

For Dullahan, shortening the race ever so slightly means he can hang back without getting lost in the crowd and conserve just a little bit more energy for his traditionally strong finish. This post position makes Dullahan a very intriguing horse at this year's Derby.

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