Fast start a must for Big Brown

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - As expected, Big Brown was installed as the 3-1 morning-line favorite for Saturday's Kentucky Derby, but the bay colt trained by Rick Dutrow will have to do it almost from the stands at Churchill Downs as he selected the outermost post position in the 20-horse field.

Only one Derby winner - Clyde Van Dusen in 1929 - has won from post position 20.

"If we would have taken the 18 or 19 maybe he doesn't break so good," said Dutrow. "If we took the outermost post, we think he can get out of the gate pretty quick. We're all right. We've got nothing to complain about, we're pretty happy."

The options were limited for Big Brown when he drew the 16th selection yesterday morning. At 3-1, Big Brown is a soft morning-line favorite, and the far outside post could change his status come post time.

Listed as the second choice at 4-1 was Santa Anita Derby winner Colonel John, whose handlers had a much easier choice, selecting third and going with the No. 10 post, which has produced 10 Derby winners.

"I had him at 5-1," said Mike Battaglia, the oddsmaker who sets the morning line for the Derby, "but when Big Brown had the 16th choice, I dropped [Colonel John] to 4-1.

Battaglia was a little surprised at the decision to put Big Brown in the No. 20 post. "They are showing a lot of confidence in what he can do."

Behind Big Brown and Colonel John is Pyro, running out of the No. 9 post at 6-1.

The draw suggests the Derby will be run in two groups, with the early front-runners, led by Big Brown and Bob Black Jack (No. 13), on the outside, and the come-from-behind horses, such as Colonel John and Pyro, on the inside.

Numbers crunch

The Derby has a full field, but four horses who entered were knocked out because of insufficient graded-stakes earnings: Halo Najib, Tomcito, El Gato Malo, and Kentucky Bear . . . Any fears of Eight Belles, the only filly entered, dropping out because of a poor post position vanished when she drew No. 6 in the order. Trainer Larry Jones selected post position No. 5 . . . Big Brown will make his final timed workout this morning . . . Trainer Todd Pletcher's horses, Cowboy Cal and Monba, completed their workouts at Keeneland yesterday morning and arrived at Barn 34 at Churchill Downs yesterday afternoon. "They're both doing well coming up to Saturday," said Pletcher. "We just want to keep them on track the next few days and hope they continue to progress." . . . Illinois Derby winner Recapturetheglory had some bad luck when his connections drew 19th in the order. He will run from post position 18. "When you come here with a long shot, there is no pressure," said trainer Louie Roussel III. "I'm a long shot. Put $2 on me. I'll be 50-1; you'll get your money's worth."

Gone, not forgotten

It's been two years since Barbaro won the Kentucky Derby and a little more than a year since he was euthanized, but trainer Michael Matz, who is back at the Derby with Visionaire, said Barbaro's popularity remains strong. "Yesterday, a guy who never called me in my life called me and said it was Barbaro's birthday," said Matz. "The horse touched so many people's lives. It's amazing." Matz chose post position No. 8 for Visionaire, the same as Barbaro had two years ago . . . Post time will be 6:04 p.m. Saturday.