Kentucky Derby post positions: American Pharoah in Gate 16
The post position draw for the 141st Kentucky Derby occurred Wednesday, with favorite American Pharoah landing No. 18.
But when Stanford, which drew Gate 11, scratched on Thursday, horses outside that slot moved one spot inside and Frammento moved into the field.
That shifted American Pharoah to No. 17, temporarily, a spot from which no horse has ever won. But Friday, El Kabeirwas officially scratched with a sore left hind-foot, and on Saturday, International Star also dropped out of the running.
As a result, Gate 1 was left empty, and American Pharoah shifted one more spot inside, to Gate 16 - effectively pole position 15. No additional horse will be entered into the field, which now stands at 18.
Dortmund, which has the second-best odds of winning the race, drew the No. 8 gate.
No horse in the last 26 years of the race has won from the No. 1 or 2 gate. Last year, Derby favorite California Chrome won from the No. 5 gate.
• LAYDEN: California Chrome faces uncertain future
Here are the starting positions for each horse. Positions are relative, after El Kabeir, Stanford and International Star dropped out of Gates 7, 11 and 12, respectively.
Gate 1: Empty
Gate 2: Ocho Ocho Ocho
Gate 3: Carpe Diem
Gate 4: Materiality
Gate 5: Tencendur
Gate 6: Danzig Moon
Gate 7: Mubtaahij
Gate 8: Dortmund
Gate 9: Bolo
Gate 10: Firing Line
Gate 11: Itsaknockout
Gate 12: Keen Ice
Gate 13: Frosted
Gate 14: War Story
Gate 15: Mr. Z
Gate 16: American Pharoah
Gate 17: Upstart
Gate 18: Far Right
Gate 19: Frammento
This post was updated after Stanford, El Kabeir and International Star were scratched from the field.
