Tagged: post position

Bodemeister has been made the early 4-1 favorite for the Kentucky Derby, with Union Rags the second choice in a full field of 20 horses. 

Trained by three-time Derby winner Bob Baffert, Bodemeister was assigned the No. 6 spot at the post position draw today at Churchill Downs.

Six horses have won from that position, the last being Sea Hero in 1993.

Union Rags drew the No. 4 post and is listed at 9-2. The unbeaten Gemologist is the third choice at
6-1. He’ll run from the 15th spot.

The post positions and early odds for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby will be set Wednesday.

A maximum field of 20 will run on Saturday. A late entry is Optimizer, trained by four-time Derby winner D. Wayne Lukas. Optimizer moved into the field after Mark Valeski was pulled from consideration by trainer Larry Jones, who said the horse wasn’t training well.

One of this year’s top Derby contenders is Union Rags (pictured). Trainer Michael Matz is looking for his second Derby victory. He won in 2006 with Barbaro.