The two horses who drew the most attention were Hard Spun and Lawyer Ron, who likely will dictate how the race will be run. Hard Spun’s best races have been on the lead, while Lawyer Ron is more of a stalker who has a tendency to get rank early in his races.
Lawyer Ron’s connections were hoping he’d draw more to the outside, where he would be able to keep track of what Hard Spun was doing. But it didn’t work out that way, as Lawyer Ron, owned by Hines Racing, drew post one in the nine-horse field, while Hard Spun drew post eight. That will make it more of a cat-and-mouse game between John Velazquez, on Lawyer Ron, and Mario Pino, on Hard Spun.
Larry Jones, trainer of Fox Hill Farms' Hard Spun, said he was delighted to see his colt draw on the outside and Lawyer Ron on the rail.
Street Sense, winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), drew post two, which is fine with his jockey Calvin Borel, also known as “Bo-rail.” Borel has used the rail to win the Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I),
Another horse who likes to be right up near the pace is Haskell Invitational (gr. I) winner Any Given Saturday, and the son of Distorted Humor should get a good position early behind the first two breaking from post three. Curlin, who can be placed anywhere, will break from post four, inside Irish invader George Washington, who has had a number of mental mishaps during his career.
The two closers in the race, Awesome Gem and Tiago, drew posts six and nine, respectively. The latecomer in the race, Diamond Stripes, will break from post seven.
Lawyer Ron was installed the slight 5-2 morning-line favorite, with Curlin and Street Sense the co-second choices at 3-1.Hard Spun is fourth choice at 8-1 in the early line.