Kentucky Derby 136 Draw They Said It

"This horse, he can't catch a break. We named him wrong. Can we change

the name?"

—Hall of Famer Bob

Baffert after Kentucky Derby (G1) morning-line favorite

LOOKIN AT LUCKY (Smart Strike) drew the

inside rail post

"It is what it is. You can't worry about that. You've got to break well.

If he doesn't break well then you're screwed."

—a philosophical

Baffert

"There no use in crying about it. All we've got to do is think positive.

Real Quiet was buried down on the rail (post 3) in '98 and he came through. It's

all about position and I've got the best jockey (in Garrett Gomez). We'll just

see what happens."

—Lookin

at Lucky's co-owner Mike Pegram

"Perfect. I was hoping for a spot down by the rail. We've got Calvin

(Borel) up, so you know that's where he's going to want to go."

—trainer

Todd Pletcher on SUPER SAVER (Maria's Mon) drawing post 4

"Seven is a lucky number for me. Well Armed was No. 7 in Dubai."

—horseman Eoin

Harty on AMERICAN LION (Tiznow) drawing post 7 for the Derby; Well Armed

(Tiznow) would take the 2009 Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) from post 7

"It's perfect. I think I've asked for '10' and I got '9' so how much closer

can you get? It's a good balanced post."

—trainer Alexis

Barba on MAKE MUSIC FOR ME (Bernstein), who got into the Derby field at the last

minute

"We've been thinking about doing it since her (last start in the March

20) Bonnie Miss (G2). When she made the lead that day she started easing up and

looking around. We've been training her in them (blinkers) since and now it has

become a no-brainer. It will just help her focus."

—Pletcher

on adding blinkers to Devil May Care for the Derby

"Great. I like it. Your draw is always in relation to where everybody

else draws. Where the other horses are is more important probably than where you

drew. That dictates your strategy. Certain horses that have certain styles are

compromised by various positions. This one complements us. We're very happy

there. And I've been lucky out there, too."

—conditioner D.

Wayne Lukas on DUBLIN (Afleet Alex) breaking from post 17; his four Derby

winners all broke from outside post 10

"I'd like to answer that after they've gone a quarter-of-a-mile. You

don't know. Any post can be trouble in a 20-horse field. The outside does

alleviate the traffic but at the same time it could cause you to be wide.

Ideally we'd like to see it unfold with us crossing the finish line first. I

think that would be wonderful. How would I like to see it unfold? I'd like to

see it be a clean race where everyone has a fair chance to win, if I had my

way."

—trainer

Tom Amoss on what he thought of post 18

for his Derby runner BACKTALK (Smarty Jones)