Kentucky Derby 2012: Daddy Long Legs and Long-Shots Who Will Challenge

Daddy Long Legs leads a group of long-shots who have a chance to steal a win at the 2012 Kentucky Derby.

By now I'm sure you already know about the favorites to win the race: Bodemeister, Union Rags, Gemologist and Dullahan.

But races wouldn't be exciting to watch if the favorites always won. The reason we all love this sport so much is that oftentimes the underdogs rise above the expectations we have and thrill us with exhilarating victories.

Here are this year's dark horses to win the race.

Daddy Long Legs 30/1

Daddy Long Legs has the pedigree to become a champion. He is the Kentucky-bred son of Scat Daddy, a former Fountain of Youth Stakes winner.

He is coming off of a recent victory in the $2 million UAE Derby at Meydan.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien loves Daddy Long Legs' chances in this upcoming race. Via ESPN:

"

He's a beautiful action horse, great mover isn't he, and got the trip well, didn't he? He obviously is [by] Scat Daddy, the Scat Daddy's you'd imagine that they're all speed, but they seem to be improving from 2 to 3 - the ones we've been watching in America - and they seem like they're going to get the trip, which is exciting really.

"

Daddy Long Legs is three years old now, so if ever there were a time for him to bust out, it's now.

Sabercat 35/1

Sabercat hails from a couple of second-place finishers at Kentucky Derbies past.

Per The Courier-Journal: "Sire Bluegrass Cat was second in the 2006 Kentucky Derby after finishing fourth in the Blue Grass. His broodmare sire, Forty Niner, was second in the 1988 Derby."

He's also won this year at the $1 million, Grade III Delta Jackpot. His jockey, Corey Nakatani, has won over 3,500 races throughout his career.

The field is deep, but Sabercat has as good a chance as any to take a victory lap in 2012.

Done Talking 50/1

This horse is coming off a recent victory at the $500,000 Grade III Illinois Derby at Hawthorne—a race he won by rallying at the last stretch to catch front-running Morgan's Guerrilla.

Granted, Done Talking will be facing stiffer competition at this year's Kentucky Derby, but the horse is riding the upward momentum at just the right time.

Hamilton Smith has never had a Triple Crown horse, but he's impressed with the way Done Talking has improved since the win in early April.

Per the Baltimore Sun: 

"

I am looking forward to a great race out of him. I really am, Smith said. If we get pace up front that should help us. Naturally you need to have a good trip with all those horses in there. With his running style you worry about getting shut off but if we can be mid-pack early, about eighth or ninth and relax, we might shock everybody.

"

It would certainly be a shock if Done Talking pulls off the miracle, but stranger things have happened.

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