The 151st running of the Kentucky Derby is set for next Saturday, May 3 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. On Saturday the 20 horses in the Derby field learned what post they would be running out of.
The favorite, Journalism (3-1), drew the 8 post, while the only other horses with single-digit odds find themselves on the far outside of the starting gate. Sovereignty (5-1) drew the 18 post while Sandman (6-1) is alongside in the 17th position — the only gate to never produce a Kentucky Derby winner. That means Sandman will have to look to make history next Saturday from that outside post.
Last year’s winner, Mystik Dan, won from the 3 gate, becoming the first horse to do so since 1998. The longest drought of any post aside from 17’s 150-race winless streak belongs to the 14 gate, which hasn’t seen a horse win since Carry Back in 1961, while the 12 (Canonero II, 1971), 9 (Riva Ridge, 1972) and 2 (Affirmed, 1978) all have lengthy droughts as well.
The 20 (11.1%), 5 (10.6%) and 10 (10.3%) gates have the three best win percentages in Kentucky Derby history.
Which horse wins the Kentucky Derby, and which double-digit longshot is a must-back? Visit SportsLine to see Jody Demling’s top picks for the Kentucky Derby, all from the expert who has nailed a colossal 11 Derby-Oaks doubles.
151st Kentucky Derby post positions
1. Citizen Bull (20-1)
2. Neoequos (30-1)
3. Final Gambit (30-1)
4. Rodriguez (12-1)
5. American Promise (30-1)
6. Admire Daytona (30-1)
7. Luxor Cafe (15-1)
8. Journalism (3-1)
9. Burnham Square (12-1)
10. Grande (20-1)
11. Flying Mohawk (30-1)
12. East Avenue (20-1)
13. Publisher (20-1)
14. Tiztastic (20-1)
15. Render Judgment (30-1)
16. Coal Battle (30-1)
17. Sandman (6-1)
18. Sovereignty (5-1)
19. Chunk of Gold (30-1)
20. Owen Almighty (30-1)