Verrazano post 14 draw for Kentucky Derby suits his style

More Than Ready’s undefeated Kentucky Derby (G1) contender Verrazano will break from post 14, the outermost stall in the main gate, in Saturday’s 139th Run for the Roses.

With some less than desirable slots still left, trainer Todd Pletcher was hoping for the best during the pill pull.

“We hadn’t gotten a spot for Verrazano and with some tough posts – the one and the two – still out there, I was concerned. But then he drew the 14 and it was a sigh of relief,” said Pletcher.

Verrazano has been nothing short of spectacular in his four lifetime starts. After breaking his maiden by seven on New Year’s Day, the striking bay won an allowance race at Gulfstream Park by some 16 lengths. His stakes debut came in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) on March 9, which he won by three lengths. He finished his Derby prep season with a gutsy three-quarter length win in the Wood Memorial (G1) on April 6.

Verrazano is owned by the partnership of Let’s Go Stable, Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith. The group bought the horse in 2011 for $250,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sale.