Jockey, Post Position Can Impact Derby Finish

A jockey can elevate or lower a horse’s performance. Here’s a look at the success rate of jockeys in Derby 137 with on-the-board finishes in past Derbies.

Joel Rosario (Brilliant Speed)

With a fourth-place finish (Make Music For Me) in his only Derby start, Rosario has a 100% success rate in on-the-board finishes.

Calvin Borel (Twice The Appeal)

With three first-place finishes (Street Sense, Mine That Bird and Super Saver) and a third-place finish (Denis of Cork) in eight Derby starts, Borel has a 50% success rate.

Victor Espinoza (Midnight Interlude)

With a first-place finish (War Emblem) and third-place finish (Congaree) in four Derby starts, Espinoza has a 50% success rate.

Mike Smith (Twinspired)

With a first-place finish (Giacomo), three second-place finishes (Prairie Bayou, Proud Citizen, Lion Heart) and one third-place finish (Cat Thief) in 17 Derby starts, Smith has a 29% success rate.

Robby Albarado (Animal Kingdom)

With two third-place finishes (Steppenwolfer and Curlin) in 12 Derby starts, Albarado has a 17% success rate.

Rafael Bejarano (Watch Me Go)

With a fourth-place finish (Papa Clem) in six Derby starts, Bejarano has a 17% success rate.

John R. Velazquez (Uncle Mo)

With a second-place finish (Invisible Ink) and a fourth-place finish (More Than Ready) in 12 Derby Starts, Velazquez has a 17% success rate.

Ramon Dominquez (Stay Thirsty)

With a second-place finish (Bluegrass Cat) in seven Derby starts, Dominquez has a 14% success rate.

Garrett Gomez (Master of Hounds)

With a second-place finish (Pioneerof The Nile) in seven Derby starts, Gomez has a 14% success rate.

Corey Nakatani (Nehro)

With two fourth-place finishes (Green Alligator and Halory Hunter) in 14 Derby starts, Nakatani has a 14% success rate.

Patrick Valenzuela (Comma To The Top)

With a first-place finish (Sunday Silence) in eight Derby starts, Valenzuela has a 13% success rate.

Jockeys with off-the-board finishes

Shaun Bridgmohan (Santiva) – 0 in four starts

Javier Castellano (Derby Kitten) – 0 in four starts

Alan Garcia (Soldat) – 0 in two starts

Julien Leparoux (Dialed In) – 0 in four starts

Rajiv Maragh (Mucho Macho Man) – 0 in one start

Jockeys making first Derby start

Jon Court (Archarcharch)

Kerwin Clark (Decisive Moment)

Rosie Napravnik (Pants On Fire)

Jesus Castanon (Shackleford)

POST POSITION

Here’s a look at the post positions with the most in-the-money finishes since 2000.

Post 2 – 5 (Brilliant Speed)

2^nd – 2: Ice Box, Aptitude

3^rd – 3: Musket Man, Curlin, Steppenwolfer

Post 8 – 5 (Dialed In)

1^st – 2: Mine That Bird, Barbaro

2^nd – 1: Hard Spun

3^rd – 2: Congaree, Imperialism

Post 5 – 3 (Decisive Moment)

1^st – 2: Funny Cide, War Emblem

2^nd – 1: Eight Belles

Post 13 – 3 (Mucho Macho Man)

1^st – 1: Smarty Jones

2^nd – 2: Bluegrass Cat, Invisible Ink

Post 3 – 2 (Twice The Appeal)

2^nd – 1: Lion Heart

3^rd – 1: Perfect Drift

Post 4 – 2 (Stay Thirsty)

1^st – 1: Super Saver

3^rd – 1: Peace Rules

Post 10 – 2 (Twinspired)

1^st – 1: Giacomo

3^rd – 1: Paddy O’Prado

Post 12 – 2 (Santiva)

2^nd – 1: Proud Citizen

3^rd – 1: Afleet Alex

Post 15 – 2 (Midnight Interlude)

1^st – 1: Fusaichi Pegasus

2^nd – 1: Pioneerof The Nile

Post 16 – 2 (Animal Kingdom)

1^st – 1: Monarchos

3^rd – 1: Denis Of Cork

Post 7 – 1 (Pants On Fire)

1^st – 1: Street Sense

Post 11 – (Master of Hounds)

2^nd – 1: Empire Maker

Post 14 – 1 (Shackleford)

3^rd – Impeachment

Post 18 – 1 (Uncle Mo)

2^nd – Closing Argument

Post 20 – 1 (Watch Me Go)

1^st – Big Brown