Lookin At Lucky draws the rail for Derby

Byron King, Daily Racing Form

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Lookin At Lucky was far from lucky at the Kentucky Derby post position draw Wednesday at Churchill Downs, drawing the inside post, considered a highly disadvantageous starting position against a full field of 20 horses. He was installed as the 3-1 favorite.

Another California shipper, Santa Anita Derby winner Sidney's Candy, will start from the far outside in post 20. But being a front-runner and well clear of most of the other speed horses, his draw did not appear as unfavorable as that of Lookin At Lucky. He was made the 5-1 second choice on the morning line.

Three horses were made co-third choices at 10-1 on the morning line: Florida Derby winner Ice Box, who drew post 2; Devil May Care, the only filly in the race, who landed in post 11; and Gotham winner Awesome Act, who starts from post 16.

Make Music for Me, who was the last horse to gain entry into the oversubscribed race when Endorsement came back injured from a Wednesday workout, starts from post 9 in the 1 1/4-mile Derby.

The post position draw was determined by a traditional "pill pull," in contrast to previous years when horsemen selected posts after having their order of selection determined by lot.

Excluded from the Derby field were two horses, Pleasant Prince and Setsuko - whom did not rank among the top 20 horses in graded earnings, the criteria for entry when the race overfills.

Heavy rain is forecasted for the Louisville area beginning late Friday and continuing into Derby Day. The National Weather Service is calling for a 60 percent chance of showers Saturday, with a rain accumulation of 1 1/2 to 2 inches.

Even under wet conditions of a crowd well in excess of 100,000 is expected.