Kentucky Derby 2022: Trainers respond to the draw

The 2022 Kentucky Derby draw took place Monday afternoon at Churchill Downs. Here is how the trainers of the contenders responded to their horses' post positions.

Mo Donegal (Post No. 1, 10-1), Charge It (Post No. 8, 20-1), Pioneer of Medina (Post No. 11, 30-1) – Trainer Todd Pletcher: “I think the new gate (which brings the inside horses farther off the rail) should work to Mo Donegal’s advantage. He’s got some experience in there; he just won the Wood Memorial from the one hole. He’s used to having dirt in his face and I’d hope that Irad (Ortiz Jr.) could save some ground around that first turn and get us in a good spot. He’s one of the few horses in my barn that I think could handle a spot like that. The other two – Charge It and Pioneer of Medina – I’m happy with their posts.”

Happy Jack (Post No. 2, 30-1) – Trainer Doug O’Neill: “It is good. We’re happy. I think that new gate makes it better for the horses inside. We remain optimistic.”

Epicenter (Post No. 3, 7-2) – Trainer Steve Asmussen: “It matches his favorite colors (referring to the Asmussen’s barn color and saddle towel color of blue). Like any race, you want to get away nicely from the gate and go from there. How long he stands in there, how long it takes to load, 150,000 people staring at him – it’s a lot. Joel is very confident in rhythm of the horse. So, if he is away cleanly Joel will let him be who he is.”

Smile Happy (Post No. 5, 20-1), Tiz the Bomb (Post No. 9, 30-1) – Trainer Kenny McPeek: “I’m real pleased with both Smile Happy in the five and Tiz the Bomb in the nine. I wanted to be inside Zandon, and that happened. They’ll be fine, in both their spots. In 2013, I had two starters, when I ran Frac Daddy (finished 16th) and Java’s War (finished 13th).”

Messier (Post No. 6, 8-1), Taiba (Post No. 12, 12-1) – Trainer Tim Yakteen: “They made us wait. (Messier and Taiba were among the last three horses chosen.) But in the end we drew well.”

Crown Pride (JPN) (Post No. 7, 20-1) – Trainer Koichi Shintani: “We’re very happy with lucky number seven. And the Derby is on May 7.”

Zandon (Post No. 10, 3-1) – Trainer Chad Brown: “Perfect. We’re ready to go.”

Barber Road (Post No. 14, 30-1) – Trainer John Oritz: “I’m very happy with the post. I don’t feel like I have any pressure on me. Barber Road and (jockey) Reylu (Gutierrez) have to do all the running. I think being out towards the middle of the racetrack gives us a good chance to see how the race shapes up going into the first turn. From there, we just have to navigate through traffic and Barber Road and Reylu have to do their job.”

White Abarrio (Post No. 15, 10-1) – Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.: “Everything’s good so far, we like our post. We’re very thankful for where we drew. It’s a good spot, most definitely, now he just has to break well and run his race.”

Cyberknife (Post No. 16, 20-1), Tawny Port (Post No. 18, 30-1), Zozos (Post No. 19, 20-1) – Trainer Brad Cox: “I’m happy with all three draws. I think with the Derby starting at the head of the stretch, and a quarter of a mile to the first turn, they’ll be able to get into position.”

This is how the connections of the runners of the Kentucky Oaks responded to their post draws Monday afternoon.

Hidden Connection (Post No. 3, 20-1) – Trainer Bret Calhoun: “All good.”

Nest (Post No. 4, 5-2), Goddess of Fire (Post No. 5, 15-1), Shahama (Post No. 13, 15-1) – Trainer Todd Pletcher: “I’m happy with the draws for Nest and Goddess of Fire. We were hoping to be somewhere in the middle. With Shahama, it’s OK. She isn’t real sharp away from the gate, so she may have a better chance out there than if she was stuck down inside.”

Echo Zulu (Post No. 7, 4-1) – Trainer Steve Asmussen: “She trains like a horse that expects to win and that’s a wonderful thing. She got tired in her first race off the bench but the fast fillies are inside of her and we are pleased to draw on the outside of them.”

Venti Valentine (Post No. 8, 20-1) – Trainer Jorge Abreu: “I’m very pleased. We wanted to draw somewhere from the four to the eight and we got a place right in there. She likes to sit off the speed, to be forwardly placed. I don’t want her on the lead. Tyler (jockey Tyler Gaffalione) knows this track really well. Now we just need the luck.”

Desert Dawn (Post No. 9, 20-1) – Trainer Phil D’Amato: “I’m very happy with the post. It gives my jockey the ability to play the break better.”

Cocktail Moments (Post No. 11, 30-1) –Trainer Kenny McPeek: “She’ll be fine starting from a post toward the outside.”

Candy Raid (Post No. 12, 30-1) – Assistant Trainer Julie Clark: “We are really happy with that actually. We’d like to see her relax like she did in the Turfway race. It worked so well, we’ll probably take the same strategy. Alex Cano (exercise rider) is doing a great job with her. She’s not a warm, fuzzy filly. She likes to train. She’s not one that wants a lot of love and affection. She’s just about business. She’s got a job to do and she does it.”