Union Rags: Inside Post Position Will Be Too Much to Overcome in Kentucky Derby

Union Rags has never been out of the money in six starts and he's running well this year, but his inside post position figures to be too much to overcome in the 2012 Kentucky Derby.

Union Rags is certainly good enough to win at Churchill Downs this year, but the fact of the matter is, he was hit with the No. 4 post position on Wednesday and he's sandwiched in between two legit contenders in Take Charge Indy and Dullahan.

Trainer Michael Matz was discouraged after the post draw, but he later said that he didn't think Take Charge Indy and Dullahan were very fast, so Union Rags could potentially speed ahead of them right out of the gate, via the Boston Herald.

But, even if that's true, Union Rags still has Bodemeister to worry about in the No. 6 slot and several contenders situated nicely on the outside.

This year is the year you don't want inside position because of the 20-horse field and the wealth of contenders.

In effect, Union Rags could race relatively well, but fail to come away with the victory because of the situation he's been put in. A loss would be less of a statement about Union Rags and more due to his post position.

If Union Rags does indeed lose, it may simply come down to bad luck.

While you always want good post position, the post draw wasn't as important in previous years than it is this year.

Let me put it this way: I liked Take Charge Indy as a dark horse candidate before the post draw—now I'm not giving him a chance in the No. 3 post position.

Of course, Bodemeister, the favorite in the odds, stands to gain from all of this.

Churchill Downs' oddsmaker, Mike Battaglia, even said before the draw that his favorite between the two horses would come down to post position, via USA Today.

Union Rags has been racing wonderfully, but it's hard to tab him as the favorite in the Derby after the post draw, and it doesn't seem fair.