LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The unbeaten and lightly raced Justify landed post 7 and was installed as the favorite for the 144th Kentucky Derby on Saturday when posts were drawn on Tuesday at Churchill Downs. A total of 21 horses were entered in the race. A maximum of 20 can run. Blended Citizen, who had the fewest points among the 21 entrants, was placed on the also-eligible list and can only get in if there is a scratch by 9 a.m. Eastern on Friday. Justify will have last year’s champion 2-year-old, Good Magic, just to his inside, and late-runners Lone Sailor, Hofburg, and My Boy Jack to his outside, giving him the opportunity, on paper, to get a stalking trip without horses to his immediate outside crossing over on him. But that all could go out the window if he doesn’t get away cleanly. “I like seven,” said his trainer, Bob Baffert, who arrived while the draw was in process and found out then that Justify’s number already had been pulled. “I saw the board and liked what I saw,” Baffert said. “We just didn't want the one hole, that's for sure. The post is fine. The actual break is the most important part.” Less fortunate at the draw was trainer Todd Pletcher, who found three of his four runners marooned in the five outside slots. :: View a complete list of DRF resources and content related to the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 5 Mendelssohn, the United Arab Emirates Derby winner, landed post 14, the final spot in the main gate. There is a large gap between 14 and post 15, the first stall in the auxiliary gate, and those posts often can be advantageous if horses break well. Or those posts can be disadvantageous if a horse in 14 or 15 comes over so sharply as to slam into horses next to him, because he has more room to gather momentum before impact. And that’s the uncertainty of the draw, for while some posts are seemingly desirous, and several are ones to avoid – like the inside two slots – until the horses leave the gate and get through the first quarter-mile no one really knows which posts will turn out to be of benefit. “It’s important to break cleanly, because each year you see horses bumping off each other like bumper cars,” Pletcher said. “Post can be important depending how the race develops, but each year it depends on everyone’s running style.” Pletcher landed post 5 for Audible – that’s the post from which the victorious Always Dreaming broke last year when winning for Pletcher – but Magnum Moon got 16, Vino Rosso 18, and Noble Indy 19. The most impacted by those draws are Magnum Moon and Noble Indy, who have contending early speed and will have to find a way to get over or risk being carried wide on the first turn. “Noble Indy has the most speed of our group. He has to get away cleanly and establish position,” Pletcher said. :: Get both the Kentucky Derby and Oaks Clocker Reports for just $19.95! The Derby field is double loaded, meaning posts 1 and 11 go in first, then 2 and 12, and so on until 10 and 20. That means Firenze Fire, who drew the rail, and Bolt d’Oro, who has post 11, will stand the longest in the gate. “The one thing about Bolt is he's nice and cool,” said Mick Ruis, who owns and trains Bolt d’Oro. Ruis said jockey Victor Espinoza “knows not to let him fall asleep.” “He's almost too cool that he could get too relaxed in there,” Ruis said. “We've been working on that and I think we'll be okay.” Justify is 3-1 on the line set by Mike Battaglia of Churchill Downs. Next on his line are Mendelssohn at 5-1 and then Magnum Moon at 6-1. Mike Watchmaker, Daily Racing Form’s national handicapper, has Justify favored at 7-2, with Magnum Moon and Mendelssohn the co-second choices at 6-1 --additional reporting by Marty McGee   POST HORSE TRACK ODDS WATCHMAKER ODDS BEST BEYER JAY PRIVMAN AND MIKE WATCHMAKER COMMENTS   SIRE  - designates Keeneland sales graduate         1 Firenze Fire 50-1 50-1 90 JP: Think his form is in decline, and think the Derby distance is well beyond his comfort zone. That's a bad combo.   by Poseidon's Warrior       MW: Feels like a long time ago when he beat Good Magic in the Champagne. Yes, he's off form, distance-challenged.   Owner: Mr. Amore Stable; Trainer: Jason Servis; Jockey: Paco Lopez             2 Free Drop Billy  30-1 30-1 90 JP: Was deservedly moved up to third via DQ in Blue Grass, but has seemed to be stuck at same level this spring.   by Union Rags       MW: One of a conspicuous group here who have shown no progress at a time when they're supposed to progress.   Owner: Albaugh Family Stables; Trainer: Dale Romans; Jockey: Robby Albarado             3 Promises Fulfilled  30-1 50-1 96 JP: Figures to try and make the early running, but last race was ugly and this is a far deeper field. Hard to endorse.   by Shackleford       MW: Walked on the early lead when he upset the Fountain of Youth. Won't get a free pass like that in the Derby.   Owner: Robert Baron; Trainer: Dale Romans; Jockey: Corey Lanerie             4 Flameaway  30-1 30-1 93 JP: Like how he fires every time, no matter surface. His consistency makes him a use in bottom of gimmicks for me.   by Scat Daddy       MW: He is certainly consistent, but consistency at the low 90s Beyer level won't get much if the best here show up.   Owner: John Oxley; Trainer: Mark Casse; Jockey: Jose Lezcano             5 Audible 8-1 10-1 99 JP: Got a terrific setup in Fla. Derby, showed good progress in preps at GP. Castellano took him over Bolt d'Oro.   by Into Mischief       MW: I liked his Fla. Derby. It showed he can win from anywhere. I have no issues with him. I just like others more.   Owner: WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, Starlight Racing, & Heads of Plains Partners; Trainer: Todd Pletcher; Jockey: Javier Castellano             6 Good Magic  12-1 8-1 100 JP: Looks to me like he's thriving. Blue Grass win was solid, trained very well since. Sitting on his best race this year.   by Curlin       MW: He must run better than he did beating softer company in Blue Grass or he will likely come up empty-handed.   Owner: e Five Thoroughbreds & Stonestreet Stables; Trainer: Chad Brown; Jockey: Jose Ortiz             7 Justify  3-1 7-2 107 JP: Hype is deserved in terms of talent. The big question is if inexperience betrays him if he must overcome trouble.   by Scat Daddy       MW: His positional speed means he should avoid trouble, and puts him in line for a sweet trip. Favorite looks tough.   Owner: WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, Starlight Racing, & Head of Plains Partners; Trainer: Bob Baffert; Jockey: Mike Smith             8 Lone Sailor  50-1 50-1 95 JP: Ran his best race yet in Louisiana Derby, but I believe the form of FG preps this year is below other regionals.   by Majestic Warrior       MW: Big try last time combined with blazing work on 4/19 confirms his improvement. I won't dismiss this longshot.   Owner: G M B Racing; Trainer: Tom Amoss; Jockey: James Graham             9 Hofburg 20-1 20-1 94 JP: Liked maturity he showed in Fla. Derby for one with such little experience. Love how he's trained, live at a price.   by Tapit       MW: I liked him in the Florida Derby, and I thought he ran very well under the circumstances. He's not out of this.   Owner: Juddmonte Farms; Trainer: Bill Mott; Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.             10 My Boy Jack  30-1 30-1 94 JP: Most experienced horse in the field ships everywhere and runs well, but think he's a cut below the best here.   by Creative Cause       MW: He loves the game, and for that I tip my cap. But his best showings were either bias-aided or pace-assisted.   Owner: Don't Tell My Wife Stables & Monomoy Stables; Trainer: Keith Desormeaux; Jockey: Kent Desormeaux             11 Bolt d'Oro 8-1 10-1 103 JP: Was in unenviable chasing position in SA Derby behind Justify. Two good preps this spring, likely to be value.   by Medaglia d'Oro       MW: Has been one of the best and fastest members of his generation from the get-go. Ignore him at your own risk.   Owner: Ruis Racing; Trainer: Mick Ruis; Jockey: Victor Espinoza             12 Enticed 30-1 30-1 95 JP: Took solid bump from Vino Rosso, couldn't match strides late in Wood, but won CD's biggest 2yo race last fall.   by Medaglia d'Oro       MW: This horse can run, but I still have some doubts he's at his best going long at this point in his young career.   Owner: Godolphin Racing; Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin; Jockey: Junior Alvarado             13 Bravazo 50-1 50-1 93 JP: Was trying to lug out entire way in the Louisiana Derby. Hard to like off such a dreadful final prep six weeks ago.   by Awesome Again       MW: He and Promises Fulfilled are in a contest for worst last-out performance. He's not winning that race, either.   Owner: Calumet Farm; Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas; Jockey: Luis Contreras             14 Mendelssohn  5-1 6-1 106 JP: World-class trainer and jockey and a horse who romped in his only dirt start make for a potent team. Dangerous.   by Scat Daddy       MW: Would be no surprise, but the setup for this is very different and less favorable than it was in his UAE Derby.   Owner: Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, & Michael Tabor; Trainer: Aidan O'Brien; Jockey: Ryan Moore             15 Instilled Regard 50-1 50-1 92 JP: Santa Anita Derby pace didn't help him, but not sure he's progressed since Los Alamitos Futurity in December.   by Arch       MW: His Beyers confirm that. He earned a 92 at Los Al, but a 92, 91, and a 90 since then suggest he's gone nowhere.   Owner: OXO Equine; Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer; Jockey: Drayden Van Dyke             16 Magnum Moon  6-1 6-1 98 JP: Not crazy about the way he drifted through lane in last two, but crazy about his talent. One of the top contenders.   by Malibu Moon       MW: He's still green, which makes what he's done all the more impressive. Imagine him when he figures it all out.   Owner: Lawana & Robert Low; Trainer: Todd Pletcher; Jockey: Luis Saez             17 Solomini  30-1 30-1 93 JP: Strategy for him will be to drop back, hope for hot pace, make one run. Maybe that gets him bottom of gimmicks.   by Curlin       MW: With recent Beyers of 92, 92, 93, and 93, several others would have to flop for him to get even a small piece.   Owner: Zayat Stables, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, & Derrick Smith; Trainer: Bob Baffert; Jockey: Flavien Prat             18 Vino Rosso  12-1 12-1 98 JP: Overcame slow start, wide trip to win Wood; thought race shape helped him. Extra points Johnny V. chose him.   by Curlin       MW: Didn't run a step in Tampa two starts back, but if his light truly clicked on in the Wood, then he can get involved.   Owner: Repole Stable & St. Elias Stable; Trainer: Todd Pletcher; Jockey: John Velazquez             19 Noble Indy 30-1 20-1 95 JP: Improved quite a bit last time out with blinkers; was close to strong pace, battled back courageously to win.   by Take Charge Indy       MW: Bottom line is, he was hard-pressed to win a prep that wasn't considered strong over lesser regarded rivals.   Owner: WinStar Farm & Repole Stable; Trainer: Todd Pletcher; Jockey: Florent Geroux             20 Combatant  50-1 30-1 94 JP: Was compromised by slow pace, wide trip in Ark. Derby, but just doesn't finish off his races as one might hope.   by Scat Daddy       MW: I take that as an indication that, at least at this point in time, he wants to go a shorter distance, not longer.   Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds & Willis Horton; Trainer: Steve Asmussen; Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.             Also Eligible:           21 Blended Citizen  50-1 50-1 88 JP: Didn't have cleanest of trips in Blue Grass, has improved with blinkers, but must move up a lot to make impact.   by Proud Citizen       MW: Had trouble at Kee, yet was beaten less than five lengths. Another reason to question strength of Blue Grass.   Owner: Greg Hall and SAYJAY Racing; Trainer: Doug O'Neill; Jockey: Kyle Frey