Kentucky Derby 2012: Top Horses to Play Before Odds Move

Race week is closing in and the odds are already out for the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

The favorites, according to Sportsbook, are Bodemeister (5-1), Union Rags (5-1) and Gemologist (7-1), and their odds are certainly going to go down as the race closes in.

So which horses offer the biggest bang for your buck? Let's take a look.

Dullahan

Currently sitting at 10-1, Dullahan might be the best bet of all. The horse is coming off a win a few weeks ago in which he defeated Hansen (another horse on this list) with a late charge, and he's more than capable of pulling off a similar feat here.

If he can keep pace early on, his kick could be the edge needed for a win. 

Hansen

Checking in at 14-1, Hansen led his last race until Dullahan caught him and he's more than capable of setting and dominating the pace at Churchill Downs.

His price is great right now for a horse with a legitimate chance to win it all, and soon enough you'll see people jumping on his bandwagon.

Get in on him now before the payout drops off. 

I'll Have Another

At 16-1, I'll Have Another looks like an outside shot, but he's talented enough to steal a win here. While Creative Cause beat him out late in the last race, he won his two previous graded stakes races and is used to running legitimate contenders.

You don't have to go all in on him, but he offers a great price to work with. 

Creative Cause

A 12-1 horse, Creative Cause is coming off a win and looks to be running his best at the perfect time.

Double-digit odds are a steal for this contender and he's giving bettors something to think about as the race approaches.