Kentucky Derby 2012: Horses That Can Succeed Anywhere

The annual drawing of the post positions for the 2012 Kentucky Derby will take place on Wednesday, but there are simply some horses in the race that can win no matter what position they draw.

In a crowded race like the Kentucky Derby, it's difficult to recover from an inside post. Some horses that draw an outside post will have to run a longer race then their counterparts on the inside and that could spell disaster for a jockey's hopes of winning a race.

But sometimes there are just those horses that are made from a different mold and have the talent necessary to overcome a bad drawing.

Here are a few of the horses in the 2012 Kentucky Derby that fit that bill.

Bodemeister

With trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Mike Smith, Bodemeister might have some of the best handlers in the sport. That instantly makes Bodemeister a step above the rest.

Coming off a win in his final tune-up before the Derby, Baffert admitted his horse is a little lazy in his approach to a race, but has the goods to turn it on and blow by his competition.

"When he's just galloping, he's sort of lazy," Baffert said. "That's what took me so long to get him to the races is we thought maybe he needs more time. But finally we said, 'We're going to run him,' and then, boom."

That type of patient approach will help Bodemeister if he is stuck with a bad draw. Smith can take his time while trying to get to a better position during the race without having to tire-out Bodemeister. When necessary, Bodemeister has the ability to turn on the jets late and take the race.

I'll Have Another

I'll Have Another also impressed in his final tune-up before the Derby.

On a muddy track, I'll Have Another didn't look to be bothered in the least bit. He kept his gallop strong and finished the race looking like a top horse.

With the weather slated to leave track conditions fast, I'll Have Another won't have to even overcome those type of track conditions in the Derby. That means a horse that can run unchanged on a slow track will have the ability to kick it into another gear when called upon for the biggest race of its life.

I'll Have Another's post position won't be much of an issue seeing as how this horse is used to being at it's best in even the toughest conditions.

Gemologist

The thing most experts note about Gemologist is his speed. That speed makes him one of the best horses in this race.

Gemologist has the ability to wait around and work himself into a better position if he starts on the outside. After working for that better position, it's Gemologist's speed that will separate him from the pack if he gets the chance.

A bad post position can easily be overcome by a horse with this kind of speed, and don't be surprised to see jockey Javier Castellano hold off on making his move to the inside until late.

Gemologist's great closing speed will make him a horse to watch for late in the race and down the stretch to the finish line.

Union Rags

With the most amount of rest before the Derby, Union Rags will be one of the freshest horses in the Derby this year. That rest could mean Union Rags will have the most energy from start to finish, thus racing one of the most complete races of the entire field.

In his last two races, Union Rags placed first in the Fountain of Youth and then third in the Florida Derby. He could've easily won at the Florida Derby if not for a bad start and that shows that Union Rags can overcome problems early to finish strong.

A bad post position could be one of those problems early for Union Rags, but don't expect it to be too much trouble for this horse.

With his closing ability and extra rest, Union Rags might have the most spring in its step come race day.