Churchill Downs' Kentucky Oaks and Derby Positions

FOR THE OAKS

1. Ever So Clever, Luis Contreras/ Steve Asmussen 20-1

2. Lockdown, Jose Ortiz/ Bill Mott 20-1

3. Mopotism, Mario Gutierrez/ Doug O’Neill 20-1

4. Paradise Woods, Flavien Prat/ Richard Mandella 5-2

5. Jordan’s Henny, Joe Rocco Jr/ Michael Tomlinson 30-1

6. Vexatious, Kent Desormeaux/ Neil Drysdale 20-1

7. Farrell, Channing Hill/ Wayne Catalano 5-1

8. Sailor’s Valentine, Corey Lanerie/ Eddie Kenneally 30-1

9. Wicked Lick, Brian Hernandez Jr./ Brendan Walsh 30-1

10. Miss Sky Warrior, Paco Lopez/ Kelly Breen 9-2

11. Tequilita, Luis Saez/ Michael Matz 20-1

12. Daddys Lil Darling, Julien Leparoux/ Kenny McPeek 20-1

13. Abel Tasman, Mike Smith/ Bob Baffert 5-1

14. Salty, Joel Rosario/ Mark Casse 6-1

AE: Summer Luck 30-1

Initial thoughts.  They didn't do Always So Clever any favors on the rail. Salty should be OK outside. Miss Sky Warrior and Paradise Woods got great positions. So did Vexatious and Farrell. 

FOR THE DERBY

1. Lookin At Lee 20-1 (Lanerie)

2. Thunder Snow 20-1 (Soumillon)

3. Fast and Accurate 50-1 (Hill)

4. Untrapped 30-1 (Santana Jr.)

5. Always Dreaming 5-1 (Velazquez)

6. State of Honor 30-1 (Lezcano)

7. Girvin 15-1 (Smith)

8. Hence 15-1 (Geroux)

9. Irap 20-1 (Gutierrez)

10. Gunnevera 15-1 (Castellano)

11. Battle of Midway 30-1 (Prat)

12. Sonneteer 50-1 (Desormeaux)

13. J Boys Echo 20-1 (Albarado)

14. Classic Empire 4-1 (Leparoux)

15. McCraken 5-1 (Hernandez Jr.)

16. Tapwrit 20-1 (Ortiz)

17. Irish War Cry 6-1 (Maragh)

18. Gormley 15-1 (Espinoza)

19. Practical Joke 20-1 (Rosario)

20. Patch 30-1 (Gaffalione)

AE: Royal Mo 20/1 (Stevens)

AE: Master Plan 50/1 (Velazquez)

Initial thoughts...I like that #14 Classic Empire ,#15 McCraken and #17 Irish War Cry are outwardly placed. #7 Girvin and #5 Always Dreaming avoided the rail...a good thing. These five will be figured in my thoughts on exotic and such. I'll find a sixth horse to work with also. It might be #16 Tapwrit. Remember, five out of the last six Derby winners have come from the post positions #13 or higher.

2011 #16 Animal Kingdom
2012 # 19 I'll Have Another
2013 # 15 Orb
2014 # 5 California Chrome
2015 # 18 American Pharoah
2016 # 13 Nyquist

We will have our "Thurby" breakdown in Thursday's column.

Paulie