Derby: M/L favorite Bodemeister draws post 6

Post Positions for the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby were drawn at 5:30pm EDT in the Churchill Downs facility. For those unfamiliar with the process, it’s quite primitive. This task is handled by two representatives who work in the Racing Office at Churchill Downs. One places the 8½” x 11” entry sheets, each having the horses name on it in a thin box about the width and height of a conventional toaster. The other rep has a tray of white marble size balls (referred to as “pills”), each having a number on it from 1 to (in this case) 20, which represents the slot in the starting gate in which the horse will break from and, when there are no “coupled entries”, is the saddlecloth and program number to which the horse is identified.

The first step in the process is verifying all entry sheets have been placed in the box. Then verify the correct number of “pills” have been placed on the tray. Next all of the pills are dropped into a small, hard-plastic, vase-shaped “Shaker” whose spout is wide enough to allow one pill in and out at a time. The rep (duh) shakes the pills in it. Now the actual Draw begins. One entry sheet is randomly pulled from the box. The horses name is announced. The rep holding the “Shaker” then turns it upside down, allowing one pill to fall out. He/she then announces the number on the pill. This process is repeated for as many runners are in the race.

The below chart shows the results of the Derby Post Position Draw along with my (G.Q.) predicted odds posted in yesterdays blog and the Morning Line (M/L) odds set by track oddsmaker Mike Battaglia…

PP	HORSE	SILKS	JOCKEY	TRAINER	G.Q.	M/L
1.	Daddy Long Legs		C. O’Donoghue	Aidan O’Brien	25-1	30-1
2.	Optimizer		Jon Court	D.Wayne Lukas	50-1	50-1
3.	Take Charge Indy		Calvin Borel	Patrick Byrne	10-1	15-1
4.	Union Rags		Julien Leparoux	Michael Matz	6-1	9-2
5.	Dullahan		K. Desormeaux	Dale Romans	15-1	8-1
6.	Bodemeister		Mike Smith	Bob Baffert	5-1	4-1
7.	Rousing Sermon		Jose Lezcano	Jerry Hollendorfer	35-1	50-1
8.	Creative Cause		Joel Rosario	Mike Harrington	8-1	12-1
9.	Trinniberg		Willie Martinez	Bisnath Parboo	50-1	50-1
10.	Daddy Nose Best		Garrett Gomez	Steve Asmussen	20-1	15-1
11.	Alpha		Rajiv Maragh	K. McLaughlin	15-1	15-1
12.	Prospective		Luis Contreras	Mark Casse	40-1	30-1
13.	Went The Day Well		John Velazquez	Graham Motion	20-1	20-1
14.	Hansen		R. Dominguez	Michael Maker	15-1	10-1
15.	Gemologist		J. Castellano	Todd Pletcher	8-1	6-1
16.	El Padrino		Rafael Bejarano	Todd Pletcher	25-1	20-1
17.	Done Talking		Sheldon Russell	Hamilton Smith	40-1	50-1
18.	Sabercat		Corey Nakatani	Steve Asmussen	30-1	30-1
19.	I’ll Have Another		Mario Gutierrez	Doug O’Neill	8-1	12-1
20.	Liaison		Martin Garcia	Bob Baffert	35-1	50-1
*AE*	My Adonis		Elvis Trujillo	Kelly Breen	50-1	50-1

*AE* – indicates Also Eligible; will only run if any other entry scratches by Friday A.M.

Recapping the ChalkFest selections from Day 18 (Sunday, April 29th) had 8 winners (3 Top Selections) with the $2 Early Double ($17.80); $2 Exacta in the 1st ($39.20), 2nd ($12.20), 6th ($24.60), 8th ($6.20) and 9th ($12.80) races; $1 Trifecta in the 6th ($24.80); $1 Pick-3 in races 7-9 ($23.90) and races 8-10 ($6.70).

Both the BEST BET (18 6-6-2) didn’t get the quickest of pace scenarios needed to close into, but did rally late to second, paying $2.60 PLACE and oddly enough $2.80 to SHOW. The LONGSHOT PICK (18 2-2-6) was bet down from his 15-1 M/L to 7-1 and ran a game 3rd, jumping out to the lead and not relinquishing it until the final 1/16th, but held onto the third spot, returning $3.80 to SHOW.

Selections for Day 19 at Pimlico Thursday, May 3rd card are posted below.

Soup Of The Day: Black Eyed Pea

1st race post is 1:10pm EDT. Track Condition… Dirt: FAST Turf: FIRM

1st race – $8,000 Maiden Claiming F&M for 3 y.o. & up – 1 1/16 mile
#2 – Captain Crusty (3-1)
#3 – Chewacla (5-2)
#1/1A – Palaciega / Elegance Girl (2-1)

2nd race – $7,500 Claiming NW2L for 3 y.o. & up – 6 furlongs
#7 – Falconhurst (7-5)
#3 – Italian Mambo (4-1)
#1 – Tuscany’s Express (3-1)

3rd race – $12,500 Maiden Claiming F&M for 3 y.o. & up – 6 furlongs
#6 – Seekthe Wildlight (5-2)
#4 – Colin’s Favorite (9-2)
#2 – Pure Dreams (6-1)

4th race – $5,000 Claiming for 3 y.o. & up – 1 1/16 mile
#3 – Southern Rainbow (9-5) BEST BET
#1 – Ensign Three Six (5-2)
#8 – Bagoga (4-1)

5th race – $5,000 Starter Allowance for F&M 3 y.o. & up – 5 furlongs on Turf
#4 – Nuit de Chance (1-1)
#2 – Just Christina (7-2)
#7 – April’s Dixie Bell (10-1)

6th race – $8,000 Claiming for 3 y.o. & up – 1 1/16 mile
#6 – Woodburner (15-1)
#1/1A – Voce Del Leone / Wheresmokethrsfire (2-1)
#4 – Belgian Beer (3-1)

7th race – $33,000 Allowance N1X for F&M 3 y.o. & up – 5 furlongs on Turf
#8 – Zalady(20-1) $$$ LONGSHOT PICK $$$
#2 – Sprinklesmiddle Ez (7-5)
#3 – No Satis Action (3-1)

8th race – $14,000 Claiming for 3 y.o. & up – 6 furlongs
#1/1A – Dancing Roman / Whateverittakes (3-1)
#2 – Classic Wildcat (5-2)
#6 – Captain My Captain (7-2)

9th race – $25,000 Optional Claiming N2X for 3 y.o. & up – 6 furlongs
#2 – Peter’s Creek (10-1)
#6 – Royal Straight (8-1)
#5 – Yano (9-2)

10th race – $5,000 Starter Allowance for 3 y.o. & up – 5 furlongs on Turf
#2 – R. Bee Ess (4-1)
#6 – Crimson Sun (5-2)
#4 – Thorny (6-1)

Good Luck!