Kentucky Derby 2012: Middle-of-the-Pack Horses Who Will Steal Spotlight

Horses love upsets too.

Bodemeister, Union Rags and Gemologist are early favorites to be the first horse to cross the finish line at the 2012 Kentucky Derby on May 5th.

It won’t be the headliners, though, but thoroughbreds now considered in the middle of the pack that will distance themselves in the most exciting two minutes in sports.

Here are those horses that will make their names known and their owners rich at Churchill Downs (odds via kentuckyderby.info).

4. Mark Valeski (25-1 Odds)

In the Louisiana Derby, Mark Valeski finished second by half a length despite running the entire race without a front shoe. If Usain Bolt lost a shoe at the Olympics, he’d struggle to keep pace with Tyson Gay. Mark Valeski nearly defeated another horse on this list, El Padrino, in the Risen Star as well.

3. Went The Day Well (20-1 Odds)

If the horse’s owner named it The Day Went Well, it’d be even higher on this list. Went The Day Well is a former Derby runner-up as well as a triumphant in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill.

2. I’ll Have Another (16-1 Odds)

He proved his speed outpacing the hyped Creative Cause by winning the Santa Anita Derby. Despite that fact, Creative Cause will enter the race with odds around 12-1.

1. El Padrino (16-1 Odds)

While Padrino means godfather, as the oldest horse in the field, El Padrino is nearly old enough to be the father of his competition. He won his first two races this year, so he’ll enter the Kentucky Derby riding plenty of momentum—if momentum means anything to a horse.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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