Kentucky Derby 2012 Picks: Horses Shafted by Poor Post Positions

When post positions for this Saturday's Kentucky Derby were released earlier this week, a few trainers and owners buried their heads in their hands.

Mismatching their horses skill set and tendencies with their post position had to cause some concern. That said, a post position isn't a death wish to a Derby hopeful, but it certainly doesn't help their outlook.

Here are the horses that received a blow to their chances with the announcement of post positions.

Daddy Long Legs

Trainer Aidan O'Brien's colt drew the rail, and no horse has won from the No. 1 position since Winning Colors in 1988. If there is any hope in that history, it lies in this similarity. Winning Colors was a turf horse, as is Daddy Long Legs.

I still believe riding the rail with the pressure of all the other horses to his side, combined with the different running surface at Churchill Downs, may force him to pull back.

I didn't see Daddy Long Legs as a major threat before the post positions, and drawing the rail didn't help him in my eyes.

Trinniberg

Bisnath Parboo's horse has an uphill battle ahead of him. A horse that has never raced over seven furlongs doesn't have a great shot to win amongst this talented field as it is.

When that same horse is dropped smack dab in the middle at the ninth post position, things just get worse.

Trinniberg is a true sprinter, but on the inside he may find it difficult to get that burst initially. How will he react if his start doesn't put him ahead of the pack?

Will he get combative with the horses around him and cause himself to run sluggish?

Then there is the concern of the unknown. Once he has passed his previous maximum in distance, does he have closing ability?

There are too many questions surrounding this horse—even at 50-1 odds.

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