Kentucky Derby Post Positions 2012: Long Shots Sure to Start Fast

Throughout the history of the Kentucky Derby, horses starting from post positions closer to the rail have fared much better than those starting on the outside. 

The most successful post positions dating back to 1900 have been the No. 1 (12 winners) and No. 5 (12 winners) posts. War Emblem and Funny Cide were the last two horses to win from post No. 5 in 2002 and 2003 respectively.

The most successful post position as of late has been post No. 8, where 2009's winner Mine That Bird started from, as well as 2006's Barbaro. A horse starting in post No. 1 has not won since 1988's Winning Colors. No horse has ever won from the No. 17 or No. 19 post. 

With that being said, here are the long shots that are sure to get off to a fast start on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Rousing Sermon (35/1) - No. 7

Rousing Sermon will start in the No. 7 post on Saturday, where eight of the past 111 winners have started from. Most recently though, 2007's Street Sense started in the No. 7 post and went on to win the Derby.

Sermon will be right alongside favorites Bodemeister, Dullahan and Union Rags though, which should help him get off to a fast start. 

Optimizer (36/1) - No. 2

The No. 2 post, like No. 1, 5 and 8,  is another successful starting post historically (9 winners), although no Derby winner has started from it since Affirmed in 1978. Oddly enough, Affirmed was the 11th and most recent Triple Crown winner.

Outside of Daddy Long Legs in post No. 1 though, no horse will be closer to the rail from the get-go than Optimizer, who is poised for a fast start this Saturday afternoon.

El Padrino (26/1) - No. 16

Last year's Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom started in the No. 16 post, and that's where El Padrino will start on Saturday. Only four times in the last 111 May Classics has a horse won from the No. 16 post, but El Padrino can rest assured knowing that just last year the winner was in his very position, literally.

2012 Kentucky Derby Post Positions With Current Odds (via KentuckyDerby.com)

1. Daddy Long Legs—23/1

2. Optimizer—36/1

3. Take Charge Indy—10/1

4. Union Rags—9/2

5. Dullahan—10/1

6. Bodemeister—7/1

7. Rousing Sermon—35/1

8. Creative Cause—11/1

9. Trinniberg—39/1

10. Daddy Nose Best—12/1

11. Alpha—21/1

12. Prospective—59/1

13. Went The Day Well—20/1

14. Hansen—13/1

15. Gemologist—9/1

16. El Padrino—26/1 

17. Done Talking—31/1        

18. Sabercat—33/1

19. I'll Have Another—12/1

20. Liaison—54/1

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