Post Horse Odds

1 West Side Bernie 30-1
2 Musket Man 20-1
3 Mr.na.

"The last time I made a horse trained by Zito 50-1 (in the Derby), he went on to win the Belmont Stakes," Battaglia noted, referring to Birdstone, who ended Smarty Jones' Triple Crown bid in 2004.

Battaglia said he took all the horses who had only a maiden win on their record and made them 50-1, with the exception of 30-1 Mr. Hot Stuff, who was third in the Santa Anita Derby.

For what could be the final year, a two-tier process was used for determining post positions. A traditional "pill pull" — as is used for every other race at Churchill Downs — determined what order each horse's connections selected their position in the starting gate.

The past several years, the event was in the evening at Fourth Street Live! and made a public event. But with ESPN not broadcasting the post-position selection process this year, Churchill moved it back to a daytime slot and in the Marquee Village in the track's Longfield parking lot.

It was the sixth straight year that at least 20 horses were entered, though in 2004 there were two scratches before the race.

It costs $25,000 to enter a horse in the Derby, with another $25,000 if the horse runs.

If all 20 start, the purse will gross $2,202,200, with the winner getting $1,442,200. If 19 start, the purse will be $2,152,200, with $1,392,200 to the winner.

Post time is scheduled for 6:24 p.m. ET, with coverage beginning at 4 p.m. on NBC.




A post a day and your access will stay!