Kentucky Derby Odds 2012: Breaking Down Top Thoroughbreds

Triple Crown season officially kicks off on Saturday with the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby from Churchill Downs. This year's field is stacked with dominant horses expected to compete for the title and darkhorse candidates who are poised to shock the world. 

While there have been preliminary odds released via the official race website, everything figures to change later on this week when the post positions are drawn. Talent usually wins out, but we have seen plenty of horses emerge from the shadows based on where they start the race. 

Here is a breakdown of the favorites at Churchill Downs this weekend and a potential sleeper candidate worth keeping an eye on. 

Odds-On Favorite: Union Rags (9-2)

Of all the horses to start working out at Churchill Downs, none has been as impressive as Union Rags. He is running the track with ease and getting great times on short stretches so far. Union Rags is the best looking, trained and fastest horse in the Derby.

It is by no means a guarantee that Rags will go on to win the race, though; we have seen plenty of great horses fall short on race day.

As things stand right now, Rags looks like the horse to watch this week and possibly throughout this Triple Crown season.

No. 2 Gemologist (7-1) 

Gemologist has been on a roll leading up to the Kentucky Derby, winning the Kentucky Jockey Club race at Churchill Downs last November and then three weeks ago at Resorts World Casino New York City Wood Memorial. 

In addition to Gemologists' prowess on the track, he is trained by one of the best in the business, Todd Pletcher. His horse Super Saver won the Kentucky Derby in 2010, and he won more money than any other trainer in the sport last year. 

Right now, things between Union Rags and Gemologist are so close that you could put them as co-favorites and no one would really raise a big fit.  

Darkhorse Candidate: Daddy Long Legs (30-1)

There seems to be a lot of backlash coming in the direction of Daddy Long Legs because of his struggles at the Breeders' Cup race last fall. Certainly, a 12th place finish is not exactly a ringing endorsement for a potential Derby winner. 

Still, Daddy Long Legs has the speed and quickness out of the gate to make a serious run at this race. He needs to get more sure-footed on dirt, which has plagued him throughout his career, but on the right day he can be a star. 

If trainer Aidan O'Brien can find that untapped potential of Daddy Long Legs, he is more than capable of putting together a perfect 1.25-mile run that shocks the world. 

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