Kentucky Derby Post Positions 2012: Daddy Long Legs Doomed by Positioning?

Post positions can have an affect on the outcome of the Kentucky Derby because some horses are more comfortable starting out at certain spots.

One of the most difficult spots is the first position, which places you up against the side of the track to start.

This can be bothersome because if the track conditions are poor, which they might be this year since thunderstorms may be a factor in the afternoon, getting a strong start can be a real challenge.

Daddy Long Legs, one of the more interesting underdogs this year with odds at 30-1, will be at the No. 1 post position for Saturday's Derby.

Horses in the first post have won at Churchill Downs before, including the races in 1986 and 1988, but it's certainly a difficult spot to be in.

Being in the middle of the pack is advantageous because you can work to either side and not have to worry about running out of track.

The last horse to win the Kentucky Derby after starting at the No. 1 or 20 post spot was Big Brown in 2008.

In last year's Derby, no horse that finished in the top six started in one of the first 10 post positions. With rain being a possible factor this year, Daddy Long Legs will have a tough time pulling off a monumental upset on Saturday.

If Daddy Long Legs can win the Derby, it will be a remarkable accomplishment that horse racing fans will remember for many years.