Kentucky Derby 2018 Contenders: Favorites, Lineup Odds After Post Positions Draw

Justify is the 3-1 morning-line favorite to win the 2018 Kentucky Derby on Saturday, having drawn Gate 7 for the 144th Run for the Roses on Tuesday.

The colt's nearest competitor is Mendelssohn, who will start from Gate 14 at 5-1, while 6-1 Magnum Moon has drawn Gate 16.

Audible and Bolt d'Oro are both 8-1, and they will start from Gates 5 and 11, respectively.

Here are the post positions and the odds for the lineup in light of the draw, courtesy of sports journalist Eric Crawford:

Justify Remains the Favorite

Post positions can often have a profound effect on the result of the Derby, and plenty of top contenders have seen their hopes evaporate during the draw in the past.

That has not been the case this year, though, as Churchill Downs' track announcer Travis Stone noted:

Justify will run from Gate 7, which has produced six winners and 17 in-the-money finishes in the past.

Per sports journalist Rick Bozich, trainer Bob Baffert appeared happy with the draw:

Baffert's other entry into the race, Solomini, has the unenviable task of racing from Gate 17, which is the only post not to produce a winner in the race's history.

Mendelssohn's Gate 14 has only produced two winners, the most recent of which was in 1963, though since the turn of the millennium there have been nine victories from horses starting from the 13th position or higher.

That perhaps also bodes well for Magnum Moon in Gate 16, from which four horses have won including Animal Kingdom in 2011.

Bolt d'Oro and Audible will be pleased with their draws, too. Sports journalist Bryce Miller commented on the former:

Battle of Midway came third from Gate 11 last year, but if Bold d'Oro is able to get the jump on My Boy Jack he would effectively start from 10, which is among the most successful posts with nine wins and 24 in-the-money finishes.

As for Audible, Always Dreaming became the record 10th winner from Gate 5 last year. Audible shares a trainer with Always Dreaming in Todd Pletcher, and has won his last four races following a third-placed finish on his debut.

With each of the top contenders receiving fairly favorable posts, it's set to be an electric showdown on Saturday.