Blog of a Horse Racing Enthusiast

The 2012 Kentucky Derby post position draw takes place today, Wednesday, May 2nd. Here are the location and process details. The 2012 Kentucky Derby Post Position Draw will use a traditional "pill pull" where horses' entry blanks are pulled simultaneously with a numbered pill to determine what stall a horse will break from in the starting gate.

Hansen is a Tapit and Stormy Sunday colt. In 6 career starts he has 4 wins and 2 places, including wins in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile, Breeders' Cup Juvenile, and Gotham Stakes. He most recently finished second to Dullahan in the Blue Grass. However, jockey Ramon Dominguez may have put away the whip too early because he didn't see Dullahan coming. He also set a very fast pace early on which may have cost him.

Daddy Long Legs is a Scat Daddy and Dreamy Maiden colt. He has three wins in five career starts, including a win in the UAE Derby at Meydan. Aidan O'Brien is putting his eggs in this basket choosing to run Daddy Long Legs in the Kentucky Derby instead of Wrote. Unfortunately, I don't think that's going to be pay for him.

Union Rags is a Dixie Union and Tempo colt. He's had a dominating young career with 4 wins, a place, and a show in six career starts - never finishing out of the money. His most recent race, the Florida Derby, saw him finish a disappointing third despite being the heavy favorite. He ran a good race but was never able to get the break away he needed to close with a win. The early consensus is that he'll be the favorite on May 5th.

Wrote is a High Chaparral and Desert Classic colt. He is a perfect example of how much and how fast things can change over a month. Despite having enough earnings to run in the Derby, trainer Aidan O'Brien has decided he will not make the trip. Instead, his stablemate, Daddy Long Legs will head to Kentucky to compete in the Run for the Roses. We'll keep our eyes on this one for the Preakness or another stakes race down the line.

Take Charge Indy is an A. P. Indy and Take Charge Lady colt. Aside from the excellent pedigree, this horse has two wins and two places in six career starts. His latest win came in the Florida Derby where he beat out the heavy favorite (and likely Derby favorite) Union Rags. If all that wasn't enough to consider this horse, he's also ridden by jockey Calvin "Bo-rail" who's won three of the last five Kentucky Derby races.

Creative Cause is a Giant's Causeway and Dream Of Summer colt. CC has finished in the money in all of his starts with a record of 4-2-2. He's also raced against some of the best three year olds in the country, many of whom will be his competition on May 5th in the Kentucky Derby. He's also got a great jockey in Joel Rosario.

Sabercat is a Bluegrass Cat and Miner's Blessing colt. He's 3-1-2 in career starts including wins in the Garden State and Delta Downs Jackpot. He finished 8th in the Rebel but rebounded a few weeks later to finish 3rd behind Bodemeister and Secret Circle in the Arkansas Derby. That finish should tell you something about his chances in Kentucky on May 5th.

Daddy Nose Best is a Scat Daddy and Follow Your Bliss colt. After a dominating performance in the Sunland Derby G3 on March 25, his connections procured the services of jockey Garrett Gomez for the Kentucky Derby on May 5th. You can bet Gomez appreciates the opportunity.

Secret Circle is an Eddington and Ragtime Hope colt. In 7 career starts he has five wins and two places, never finishing below second. His most recent race was the Arkansas Derby in which he placed second to Bodemeister, another Bob Baffert horse. Baffert has no shortage of winners in his stable and Secret Circle is definitely one of them.