LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Aside from the fact that a horse has never won the race from post 17, trainer Todd Pletcher seemed relatively happy with that post position after Fierceness drew it for Kentucky Derby 150 to be run May 4 at Churchill Downs. “It’s overdue, right?” Pletcher said. “Way overdue the way I see it.” It’s a statistical anomaly to be sure, but post 17 is 0 for 44 in the Derby, a race that has seen winners break from posts 18, 19, and 20. Pletcher liked the outside draw for Fierceness because he has enough speed to attain a good position under John Velazquez and the other speed – Dornoch in post 1 and Track Phantom in post 12 – is drawn to his inside. “It gives Johnny the luxury of breaking and surveying things on the inside,” Pletcher said. “Hopefully, we don’t have to stand in the gate too long, he gets in there and has time to get set up and ready.” Fierceness, last year’s juvenile champion and last month’s dynamic Grade 1 Florida Derby winner, was made the 3-1 morning-line favorite by Daily Racing Form’s David Aragona in a field of 22 that was entered Saturday night. The field is limited to 20 starters. :: DRF Kentucky Derby Package: Save on PPs, Clocker Reports, Betting Strategies, and more. Mike Battaglia, who was making his 50th Derby morning line for Churchill Downs, made Fierceness the 5-2 favorite with Sierra Leone the 3-1 second choice. Aragona has Sierra Leone, the Risen Star and Blue Grass winner, the 9-2 second choice. The draw was held on the balcony plaza of the new $20 million paddock where fans were allowed to watch – but could barely hear – the proceedings. Last year, 23 horses were entered in the race but five were scratched, including Forte, the 2022 juvenile champion owned by Mike Repole and trained by Pletcher, the same connections of Fierceness. Sierra Leone drew post 2, a position that hasn’t produced a Kentucky Derby winner since Affirmed in 1978. Chad Brown, trainer of Sierra Leone, said he preferred an inside post to being outside. “At least with the inside he should save significant ground into the first turn,” Brown said. “Of course, when horses are coming over, you’ll have to avoid getting stopped and such.” Brown’s other entrant, Domestic Product, the Tampa Bay Derby winner, drew post 15. Danny Gargan entered two horses. Dornoch, the Fountain of Youth winner, drew post 1. Society Man, the Wood Memorial runner-up, drew post 20. Gargan said the plan was to send Dornoch to the lead regardless of where he drew, so he’s not concerned about the rail. Following Dornoch and Sierra Leone, in post order, are Mystik Dan, Catching Freedom, Catalytic, Just Steel, Honor Marie, Just a Touch, Encino, T O Password, Forever Young, Track Phantom, West Saratoga, Endlessly, Domestic Product, Grand Mo the First, Fierceness, Stronghold, Resilience, and Society Man. Epic Ride and Mugatu are the also-eligibles. They would need horses to scratch by 9 a.m. Friday to get into the race. The Kentucky Derby will go as race 12 of 14 and is scheduled to go postward at 6:57 p.m. Kentucky Derby field Post Horse ML Odds 1 Dornoch 20-1 2 Sierra Leone 3-1 3 Mystik Dan 20-1 4 Catching Freedom 8-1 5 Catalytic 30-1 6 Just Steel 20-1 7 Honor Marie  20-1 8 Just a Touch 10-1 9 Encino 20-1 10 T O Password 30-1 11 Forever Young 10-1 12 Track Phantom 201 13 West Saratoga 50-1 14 Endlessly 30-1 15 Domestic Product 30-1 16 Grand Mo the First 50-1 17 Fierceness  5-2 18 Stronghold 20-1 19 Resilience 20-1 20 Society Man 50-1 21AE Epic Ride 50-1 22AE Mugatu  50-1   In other stakes next Saturday: * I’m Very Busy, impressive winner of the Grade 2 Muniz Memorial Classic at Fair Grounds, and Program Trading, winner of last fall’s Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar, give trainer Chad Brown a powerful 1-2 punch in the Grade 1, $1 million Old Forester Turf Classic. The Brown pair will have to take on the Charlie Appleby-trained Naval Power, runner-up to stablemate Master of The Seas in the Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland. The 11-horse field also includes Webslinger and Far Bridge, separated by a nose in the American Turf here last year. :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2024: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more * Bo Cruz, winner of the Grade 3 Commonwealth at Keeneland earlier this month; Zozos, winner of the Ack Ack here last fall; and Hoist the Gold, the Grade 2 Cigar Mile winner; head a field of 11 entered in the Grade 1, $1 million Churchill Downs Stakes at seven furlongs. * Red Carpet Ready, 3 for 3 at Churchill Downs including a victory in last year’s Eight Belles Stakes on Oaks Day, will try to avenge her loss to Alva Starr in the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland when the two square off again in the Grade 1, $1 million Derby City Distaff.  Vahva, who ran second in the Madison, is back in this 10-horse field as is Grade 1 winner Chi Town Lady. * Brown (four) and Brad Cox (two) have combined to win six of the last seven runnings of the Grade 2, $750,000 Distaff Turf Mile. Saturday, Brown sends out the trio of Delahaye, Chili Flag, and European import Ascendancy, previously trained by John and Thady Gosden, while Cox will send out Heavenly Sunday. Delahaye has won three straight races, while Chili Flag is coming off a narrow victory in the Grade 3 Honey Fox. Heavenly Sunday has not run since taking the Mrs. Revere Stakes here last November. She also won the Edgewood here. * Nash and Carbone, the one-two finishers from the Hot Springs Stakes, and Vlahos, an impressive debut winner at Santa Anita, are among the top trio in a field of 12 3-year-olds entered in the Grade 2, $600,000 Pat Day Mile. Seize the Grey, who would have been two deep on the also-eligible list in the Kentucky Derby, went in this spot instead. * The Appleby-trained Legend of Time, a winner of 4 of 5 starts in Europe, makes his U.S. debut in the Grade 2, $600,000 American Turf against the unbeaten and lightly-raced Seart. The 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-olds drew a field of 17, but will be limited to 14 runners. Other notables include Stay Hot and Abrumar, each of whom has won their last three starts. * Motorious, runner-up in last year’s Grade 2 Twin Spires Turf Sprint; Arrest Me Red, winner of this race in 2022; and Mischief Magic, second as the favorite in the Grade 2 Shakertown Stakes last month at Keeneland; head an overflow field of 17 entered for the $600,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint. The race will be limited to 14 starters. * Kupuna and Five Star General, the one-two finishers from the Evangeline Mile; Oscar Eclipse, the Sir Shackleton winner at Gulfstream; and Best Actor, a two-time winner at Churchill; top the 11-horse field entered in the $200,000 Knicks Go Overnight Stakes. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.