LEXINGTON, Ky. — Fierceness, the Todd Pletcher trainee who won the Florida Derby by more than 13 lengths last month, was installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s historic 150th edition of the $5 million Kentucky Derby.

A winner in three of his five career starts, Fierceness was assigned post position 17 for the Derby. That’s the only post position to have never produced a Kentucky Derby winner.

The post position draw for both the 2024 Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks (the companion race for fillies) took place Saturday night at Churchill Downs in Louisville.

Other top morning-line choices for the Derby were Sierra Leone, who was given post position 2 and assigned morning-line odds of 3-1. A late charger, Sierra Leone impressively won the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in come-from-behind fashion last month.

Sierra Leone is attempting to become the first Blue Grass winner to double up with the Derby since 1991 (Strike the Gold).

The third choice, according to the morning line, is Catching Freedom at 8-1 odds. The Louisiana Derby winner will depart from post position 4.

The two Japanese horses that are set to run in Derby 150 were given starting spots right next to each other.

T O Password (JPN), which earned entry into the Derby via the Japanese qualifying pathway, was assigned post position 10. He has morning-line odds of 30-1.

Forever Young (JPN), the winner of the UAE Derby and a perfect 5 for 5 in his racing career, will leave from post position 11 at odds of 10-1.

Encino, the Brad Cox-trainee who won the final Kentucky Derby prep race (the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland this month), is in post 9 at 20-1.

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