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Kentucky Derby 2012: Who Has the Biggest Advantage Going into Saturday's Race?

Gabe Zaldivar
Jun 7, 2018

The posts have been drawn, and the thoroughbreds have been sized and measured. It's about time we talk about clear advantages heading into Saturday.ย 

We have speedsters and steady steeds ready to take on the mammoth challenge of a long, one-and-a-quarter-mile race that features one of the most wide-open fields in some time.ย 

There is no clear favorite like in other years, rather a handful that could take the Derby with good fortune and guile.ย 

Here are the post positions that give some of the horses very clear advantages heading into the big day.ย 

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

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

ย 1.ย Daddy Long Legsย 30/1
ย 2.ย ย Optimizerย 50/1
ย 3.ย ย Take Charge Indyย ย 10/1
ย 4.ย ย Union Ragsย ย 9/2
ย 5.ย ย Dullahanย 8/1
ย 6.ย ย Bodemeisterย 4/1
ย 7.ย ย Rousing Sermonย 50/1
ย 8.ย ย Creative Causeย ย 12/1ย 
ย 9.ย ย Trinnibergย 50/1
ย 10.ย Daddy Nose Bestย ย 15/1
ย 11.ย ย Alphaย 15/1
ย 12.ย ย Prospectiveย 30/1
ย 13.ย ย Went The Day Wellย ย 20/1
ย 14.ย ย Hansenย 10/1
ย 15.ย ย Gemologistย 6/1
ย 16.ย El Padrinoย 20/1
ย 17.ย ย Done Talkingย ย 50/1ย 
ย 18.ย ย Sabercatย 30/1
ย 19.ย ย I'll Have Anotherย 12/1
ย 20.ย ย Liaisonย 50/1

Note:ย 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. Dullahan: 8/1

Well, duh. Post 5 is a great draw to get and is one of the most successful positions of all time, but I like Dullahan here for another reason.ย 

The late breaker is sandwiched between Union Rags and Bodemeister, two other favorites. He will have a very clear vantage point to see where the stiff competition is right away.ย 

This will allow him to pick his exact moment to strike late.ย 

2. Gemologist: 7/1

Yes, he may be coming from the outside, but the thoroughbred with dominant size will have the perfect slot to get out and in front of the action, especially with Hansen right next to him.ย 

Gemologist likes to beย challenged, and the speedster Hansen will light a fire as soon as the race begins.

3. Take Charge Indy: 16/1

If you are looking for long shots with an advantage, I like Take Charge Indy from the No. 3 post.

Getting butted up against the rail may bother some, but not this horse.

It is also an advantage for jockey Calvin Borel, who loves to get up against the post and ride the inside. This is the perfect spot for the pair and will have them running sneaky-hot out of the gate.ย