Kentucky Derby 2018 Horses: Odds and Post Positions for Contenders and Sleepers

For many casual fans, the horse racing season begins and ends with the Triple Crown races.

However, the 20 horses in the 2018 Kentucky Derby will not have just ended up at Churchill Downs by happenstance. Many of these horses have displayed their talent and ability from their earliest races as two-year-olds.

But this year, Justify—the favorite according to OddsShark—is able to make an unusual case. He did not race at all as a two-year-old, and he is trying to become the first horse since 1882 to win the Kentucky Derby without running during his two-year-old racing season. A horse named Apollo accomplished that feat, and Justify's trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Mike Smith are going to try to end that 136-year-old trend.

Justify received excellent news at the post position draw Tuesday morning when he was given the No. 7 post. Justify, who is listed at +300 (bet $100 to win $300) by OddsShark, has a chance to get an ideal trip from that post.

The Kentucky Derby regularly features huge fields, and nearly every trainer and jockey want to avoid the posts on the extreme inside as well as the far outside.

Any horse starting from the three inside posts has a chance to get shuffled backward or bounced in the tight quarters. Posts on the far outside are also problematic because horses that don't get off to quick starts often have to run a greater distance in the 1 ¼-mile race.

Here's look at the post positions in the 2018 Run for the Roses:

Mendelssohn is the second choice in the field at +400, and he will start from the No. 14 post position. Mendelssohn made a name for himself with his smashing 18 ½-length in the UAE Derby in late March.

Mendelssohn is trained by Irish stalwart Aiden O'Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore. While European shippers don't have a history of performing well in the Derby, it's difficult to ignore Mendelssohn's talent and accomplishments.

Bolt d'Oro is a +900 shot trained by Mick Ruis and ridden by Victor Espinoza. He won the San Felipe as a result of a disqualification, but he had a disappointing performance in the Santa Anita Derby. Bolt d'Oro will start out of the 11 hole.

Magnum Moon is similar to Justify, in that he did not race as a two-year-old. He is the fourth choice in the Kentucky Derby at +700, per OddsShark, and Todd Pletcher's horse must be taken seriously because he has performed extremely well this year. He was quite sharp in winning the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn, and he has won all four of his races to this point. Magnum Moon will start from the No. 16 post position.

History shows that sleepers and long shots often perform admirably in the Kentucky Derby and have an excellent chance to win.

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

This year's group of sleepers is led by Hofburg, a +1600 shot trained by William Mott and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. Hofburg will race out of the ninth post position, and while he does not have an extensive history, he finished just three lengths in back of Audible (the third choice in Saturday's odds) in the Florida Derby.

Vino Rosso is also trained by Pletcher, and he is a horse who deserves strong consideration at +1400. Vino Rosso was victorious in the Wood Memorial and he should benefit by getting a ride from John Velazquez, a two-time Derby winner. Vino Rosso's No. 18 post position may not be advantageous.

Don't count out Good Magic, a +900 shot trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Jose Ortiz. Good Magic won the Bluegrass States and also took the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Classic last fall. Good Magic will start next to Justify in the No. 6 post position.