POST 18 AMERICAN PHAROAH

Zayat Stables' American Pharoah drew post 18 for the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) during the post position draw April 29 at Churchill Downs.

American Pharoah, the champion 2-year-old male of 2014, is trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, who seeks his fourth win in the Derby. Baffert's last win came with War Emblem in 2002.

American Pharoah, winner of the Arkansas Derby (gr. I) by eight lengths after taking Oaklawn Park's Rebel Stakes (gr. II) by 6 1/4 lengths, will be ridden by Victor Espinoza. Oddsmaker Mike Battaglia made him the 5-2 favorite for the 20-horse field.

Baffert's other runner, Kaleem Shah's Dortmund, drew post 8. The unbeaten son of Big Brown   will be ridden by Martin Garcia and was installed the 3-1 second choice.

"Outside doesn't really bother me," Baffert said of the favorite's draw. "As long as he breaks well, he'll be in a good spot.

"When he drew the eight I was happy with that," he said of Dortmund. "He's a good gate horse."

Third choice on the morning line is WinStar Farm and Stonestreet Stables' Carpe Diem at 8-1. The son of Giant's Causeway   drew an inside spot in post 3.

Post time for the Run for the Roses is 6:34 p.m. EDT and will be national television. The NBC telecast runs from 4:30-7 p.m.

Twenty-two horses were entered for the Run for the Roses. Frammento and Tale of Verve are on the also-eligible list. Scratch time is 9 a.m. May 1.

Since 1930, posts 5 and 10 have produced the most winners with nine apiece. Posts 1 and 8 have had eight winners each, but the horse on the rail has not hit the wire first since Ferdinand in 1986. Post 2 has seven winners. The only post position not have a winner is 17.

The morning-line favorite has won the last two runnings of the Derby. Orb paid $12.80 after being the 7-2 choice in 2013 and California Chrome paid $7 as the 5-2 morning-line choice last year. However, only two other morning-line favorites have won since Spectacular Bid in 1979: Big Brown (2008) and Fusaichi Pegasus (2000).

The Derby will carry a purse of $2,203,800 with $1,443,800 to the winner, $400,000 to the runner-up, $200,000 for third, $100,000 for fourth, and $60,000 for fifth. 

Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/91665/favored-american-pharoah-draws-post-18#ixzz3YjqFmsck