Kentucky Derby 2014 Odds: Morning Line on Entire Field After Post Positions Draw

Heavy favorite California Chrome drew the fifth post for the 2014 Kentucky Derby in what was a fairly neutral draw for the horse. 

In the fifth post, Chrome won't be able to have a conservative start. He would run the risk of getting bogged down in traffic as the field moves toward the rail. Sports Illustrated's Tim Layden helps explain: 

So, Chrome is still bound to leave the gate as a big favorite, but he's certainly not the only horse to watch. With Wednesday's draw for the 2014 Kentucky Derby, the odds for the Run for the Roses are locking in. Have a look:  

Post	Horse	Odds	Jockey	Trainer	Owner
1	Vicar's In Trouble	30-1	Rosie Napravnik	Mike Maker	Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey
2	Harry's Holiday	50-1	Corey Lanerie	Mike Maker	Skychai Racing LLC, Sand Dollar Stable, LLC, Terry Raymond & Jana Wagner
3	Uncle Sigh	30-1	Irad Ortiz Jr.	Gary Contessa	Wounded Warrior Stables & Anthony C. Robertson
4	Danza	10-1	Joe Bravo	Todd Pletcher	Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners
5	California Chrome	5-2	Victor Espinoza	Art Sherman	Steve and Carolyn Coburn & Perry and Denise Martin
6	Samraat	15-1	Jose Ortiz	Rick Violette Jr.	My Meadowview Farm
7	We Miss Artie	50-1	Javier Castellano	Todd Pletcher	Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey
8	General A Rod	15-1	Joel Rosario	Mike Maker	Starlight Racing & Skychai Racing, LLC
9	Vinceremos	30-1	Joe Rococo Jr.	Todd Pletcher	WinStar Farm LLC and Twin Creeks Racing
10	Wildcat Red	15-1	Luis Saez	Jose Garoffalo	Honors Stable Corp.
11	Hoppertunity	6-1	Mike Smith	Bob Baffert	Karl Watson, Mike Pegram & Paul Weitman
12	Dance With Fate	20-1	Corey Nakatani	Peter Eurton	S. Alesia, Bran Jam Stable & Ciaglia Racing, LLC
13	Chitu	20-1	Martin Garcia	Bob Baffert	Tanma Corporation
14	Medal Count	20-1	Robby Albarado	Dale Romans	Spendthrift Farm
15	Tapiture	15-1	Ricardo Santana Jr.	Steve Asmussen	Winchell Thoroughbreds
16	Intense Holiday	12-1	John Velazquez	Todd Pletcher	Starlight Racing
17	Commanding Curve	50-1	Shaun Bridgmohan	Dallas Stewart	West Point Thoroughbreds
18	Candy Boy	20-1	Gary Stevens	John Sadler	C R K Stable LLC
19	Ride On Curlin	15-1	Calvin Borel	William G. Gowan	Daniel J. Dougherty

Just for the sake of making a fully informed selection, have a look at how the post positions have fared since the introduction of the starting gate in 1930. 

Post	No. of Winners	Most Recent
1	8	1986, Ferdinand
2	7	1978, Affirmed
3	5	1998, Real Quiet
4	5	2010, Super Saver
5	8	2003, Funny Cide
6	2	1993, Sea Hero
7	6	2007, Street Sense
8	8	2009, Mine That Bird
9	4	1972, Riva Ridge
10	9	2005, Giacomo
11	2	1998, Winning Colors
12	3	1971, Canonero II
13	3	2004, Smarty Jones
14	2	1961, Carry Back
15	3	2000, Fusaichi Pegasus
16	5	2013, Orb
17	0	N/A
18	1	1982, Gato Del Sol
19	1	2012, I'll Have Another
20	1	2008, Big Brown

Most Intriguing Favorites  

California Chrome 

Garry Jones/Associated Press

In a group of talented yet inconsistent horses, Caliornia Chrome stands head and shoulders above. The Art Sherman trainee was considered a heavy favorite leading up to the draw, and that wasn't likely to change after. It certainly wasn't going to change after he drew No. 5. 

Chrome has been supremely impressive. He will enter the derby having won four straight. Those wins have come by over a combined 24 lengths. The last two wins have come in graded stakes races, the last being the Santa Anita Derby. That race included Bob Baffert trainee Hoppertunity. 

This horse has looked spectacular, which is especially impressive considering his bargain-basement breeding. The owners certainly believe in this horse. As Yahoo! Sports' Pat Forde reported in the link from the below tweet, the owners of California Chrome, Steve Coburn and Perry Martin, have turned down many offers for this horse. One of those offers came a couple of months ago and was for $6 million:

As Forde stated, the owners admitted it would be "life-changing money," but they haven't flinched on selling. California Chrome and the people around him are in a unique and special moment in time, and this horse has all the looks of being ready to seize on that moment by winning the Run for the Roses.  

Wicked Strong

David Alcosser/Associated Press

Starting on the extreme outside isn't as bad as one might think. Sure, Wicked Strong has the furthest path to the finish line, but he will be safe from the traffic. Not to mention, with the form this horse showed in his last race, he has the speed down the stretch to win this race in the closing moments.  

After being a complete afterthought for the derby, Wicked Strong exploded into the public consciousness with a dominant showing in the Wood Memorial. 

Wicked Strong won just one of his first five races before the April 5 Wood Memorial for 3-year-olds at Aqueduct. He won that prestigious race by 3.5 lengths. 

That race featured a strong field that included the previously undefeated Samraat, who, by the way, got a poor draw at No. 6.

Wicked Strong remains a favorite to win this race after the draw.

Danza

Morry Gash/Associated Press

Danza got the fourth post. That position has had moderate and recent success. In 2010, Super Saver won from post No. 4. Super Saver and Danza share the same trainer, Todd Pletcher. 

Admittedly, that is not a strong connection to predict a victory, but in this case it is a little icing on a late-blooming cake. Danza floundered a bit to start his career and then took a seven-month layoff due to some knee trouble.  

He's had two races since returning. The first was completely forgettable. The second was entirely unforgettable. Danza dominated the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park by four lengths. 

It's interesting that Danza and Chrome will be right next to each other. This could either help the horses set a sustainable yet quick early pace, or they'll wear each other out trying to get to the front first.