Derby Looking Like a Kentucky Bullfight : Horse racing: Favorite draws No. 4 post, but owner of Ulises says it won’t be easy.

Holy Bull and Ulises, who are expected to be the hares that run ahead of the tortoises in the 120th Kentucky Derby, drew post positions alongside one another as the 15 anticipated horses were entered Thursday in Saturday’s race.

For Jimmy Croll, the trainer of favorite Holy Bull, this chumminess in the starting gate doesn’t make any difference. For Robert Perez, the cocky owner of Ulises, it’s an immediate chance for his colt to remind Holy Bull that he’s in the race.

“I love my spot,” Perez said after the post-position pills were drawn in the Kentucky Derby Museum at Churchill Downs. “We’re the matador. We’re here to kill the Bull.”

If Ulises can merely make Holy Bull uncomfortable in the first half mile of the race, the trainers of the late-running horses will be most appreciative. Many of them are conceding the race to Croll’s slate-gray colt unless he’s challenged early, and Ulises might be the only starter willing to make that commitment. No one contested the pace with Holy Bull in the Florida Derby or the Blue Grass Stakes and the son of Great Above cantered home both times.

When Holy Bull drew the No. 4 post a few draws after Ulises had pulled No. 5, there was a murmur among the several hundred people there.

“We have a great post,” said Croll, who is trying to break an ominous string. The last 14 Derby favorites have been beaten. “Ulises? I didn’t care where he drew. Now that he’s next to us, maybe he’ll clear the way.”

The inside and outside posts are generally not considered good spots. Jockey Pat Day was pleased that his mount, Tabasco Cat, will break from the No. 9 stall. And Brocco, the Santa Anita Derby winner, won’t be able to use his No. 10 post as an excuse, should he not win.

“I’ve never been keen about being down on the inside,” said Day, who scored his Derby victory aboard Lil E. Tee in 1992 from the No. 10 hole. “If he draws inside, a horse has to stand so long (while the rest of the field is loaded), and it can be hard to keep him focused and relaxed.”

Only one horse--Ferdinand in 1986--has won on the rail in the last 30 years, and Soul Of The Matter, trying to become the first West Virginia-bred to take the roses, came up with No. 1 for Saturday. No. 15 went to Kandaly, winner of the Louisiana Derby, which means he’ll have to break from the auxiliary gate. Churchill Downs’ main gate accommodates 14 horses.

“I don’t think those two horses (Soul Of The Matter and Kandaly) will be hurt by where they are,” said Ron McAnally, who trains Valiant Nature, winner of the Hollywood Futurity over Brocco last year. “They’re both closers, so they should have time to get into position.”

Holy Bull was made the 8-5 favorite by Mike Battaglia, the linemaker at Churchill Downs. Next on his odds are Brocco at 3-1 and Tabasco Cat at 6-1. The odds from there are 8-1 and higher. Here’s the post-position rundown, with jockeys and odds:

Soul Of The Matter, Kent Desormeaux, 20-1; Valiant Nature, Laffit Pincay, 12-1; Powis Castle, Chris Antley, 30-1; Holy Bull, Mike Smith, 8-5; Ulises, Jorge Chavez, 30-1; Mahogany Hall, Willie Martinez, 30-1; Strodes Creek, Eddie Delahoussaye, 8-1; Go For Gin, Chris McCarron, 15-1; Tabasco Cat, Pat Day, 6-1; Brocco, Gary Stevens, 3-1; Smilin Singin Sam, Larry Melancon, 30-1; Southern Rhythm, Garrett Gomez, 15-1; Blumin Affair, Jerry Bailey, 15-1; Meadow Flight, Shane Sellers, 30-1, and Kandaly, Craig Perret, 30-1.

All horses will carry 126 pounds. Because the track tote board has room for only 12 numbers, Ulises, Mahogany Hall, Smilin Singin Sam and Meadow Flight--horses given the least chance of winning--have been dropped into the parimutuel field. A bet on one is a bet on all four.

The 1 1/4-mile race is worth $888,800, with $638,800 going to the winner. The weather forecast is now calling for morning showers today and a chance of afternoon thunderstorms Saturday, with Saturday’s temperatures about 70 degrees.

“This track’s actually faster when it’s just a little wet,” McAnally said.

Although unbeaten in four sprints in Panama, Ulises was 20-1 at Keeneland when he made his United States debut on April 24. He led for six furlongs in the 1 1/16-mile Lexington Stakes before finishing third, well behind Southern Rhythm and Soul Of The Matter.

Asked if it made any difference that Holy Bull was starting just inside his colt, Perez said, “I don’t care. I don’t worry about Holy Bull. He has to worry about me.”

McAnally questions whether Ulises has the necessary class to go with his speed.

“I’m not sure Ulises will be able to keep up,” McAnally said. “I think the jockey will have to pump him to keep up.”

Chavez, a 32-year-old Peruvian, will be riding Ulises for the first time and also be making his Derby debut. Considered one of New York’s best jockeys, Chavez is an expert at getting horses out of the gate, which makes him a good matchup for Ulises.

Valiant Nature, after running in front while winning the Hollywood Futurity, raced off the pace as Pincay followed McAnally’s instructions in the Blue Grass. Valiant Nature couldn’t close the gap, finishing 3 1/2 lengths behind, in second place. Smith had not used his whip on Holy Bull. Smith has used it only twice on Holy Bull, hitting him four times in seven races.

Kentucky Derby Field

The field for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, with post position, horse’s name, jockey’s name and odds:

Horse Jockey Odds 1. Soul Of The Matter Desormeaux 20 2. Valiant Nature Pincay 12 3. Powis Castle Antley 30 4. Holy Bull Smith 8-5 5. f-Ulises Chavez 30 6. f-Mahogany Hall Martinez 30 7. Strodes Creek Delahoussaye 8 8. Go For Gin McCarron 15 9. Tabasco Cat Day 6 10. Brocco Stevens 3 11. f-Smilin Singin Sam Melancon 30 12. Southern Rhythm Gomez 15 13. Blumin Affair Bailey 15 14. f-Meadow Flight Sellers 30 15. Kandaly Perret 30

f-mutuel field.

Weights: Each 126 pounds. Distance: 1 1/4 miles. Purse: $888,800 if 15 start. First place: $638,800. Post time: 2:30 p.m. PDT.

* ALLAN MALAMUD: C10