The 2016 Kentucky Derby post positions are out. Wednesday afternoon, the field for the 142nd Run for the Roses learned where their starting gates would be.
San Diego's Danzing Candy - run by jockey Mike Smith - drew the outermost stall: #20. Since 1990 there have been only two winners out of that post.
Danzing Candy is owned by Ted and Leslie Aroney in partnership with James and Dianne Bashor.
Before making their way to Louisville earlier this week, Aroney spoke with NBC7 about his confidence in their three year old thoroughbred saying, “When this horse took off and broke his maiden he was something special. He broke away and won another allowance race really easy and I said ‘Oh Jim we have something here now.’”
The most desired post spots are typically between the 5th and 15th stalls, however Dough O’Neil, the trainer for this year’s race favorite, Nyquist, said he'd like to be on the outside of all the speed horses in the Kentucky Derby gates.
Nyquist, owned by J. Paul Reddam, drew the 13th position.
The draw brought in big names from around the sports world.
New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton was in attendance, supporting Saints owner Tom Benson who has two horses in the race this year.
Benson's top horse, Tom's Ready, earns a spot near the middle at number 12.
The winning jockey in the last two Kentucky Derbys, Victor Espinoza, will ride thoroughbred horse, Whitmore. They have the tenth slot in Saturday’s race.
If he wins again this year, Espinoza will be the first jockey to win the Kentucky Derby three years in a row.
Last year's winning trainer of Triple Crown winner American Pharaoh, Bob Baffert is looking for his fifth derby win. Baffert's horse, Moore’s Spirit takes the 17th spot.
No horse has ever won from the 17th starting position.
You can watch the Kentucky Derby right here on NBC 7 this Saturday, May 7th.
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