Kentucky Derby Odds 2012: Surprising Longshots Ready to Shine
The post draw is just hours away, giving us just enough time to take a look at the odds prior to the horses taking their spots in the field.
As USA Today reports, trainer Larry Jones announced Tuesday morning that Kentucky Derby contender Mark Valeski would not run in Saturday's race.
With one contender out and Optimizer, a one-dimensional worker, coming into the race, we have a wide-open field.
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The odds will change when the post draws are set, but we have our clear longshots that we like right now.
But first, here are the full odds as found on May 1 at KentuckyDerby.info.
| Alpha | 11/1 |
| Bodemeister | 9/2 |
| Creative Cause | 11/1 |
| Daddy Long Legs | 30/1 |
| Daddy Nose Best | 15/1 |
| Done Talking | 50/1 |
| Dullahan | 8/1 |
| El Padrino | 16/1 |
| Gemologist | 7/1 |
| Hansen | 14/1 |
| Hero of Order | 100/1 |
| I'll Have Another | 15/1 |
| Liaison | 40/1 |
| My Adonis | 40/1 |
| Optimizer | 20/1 |
| Prospective | 50/1 |
| Rousing Sermon | 40/1 |
| Sabercat | 35/1 |
| Take Charge Indy | 16/1 |
| Trinniberg | 45/1 |
| Union Rags | 9/2 |
| Went The Day Well | 18/1 |
1. Went the Day Well: 18/1
Does lightning strike in the same place twice? It would certainly be a great story if it did, because we have a horse that could follow in the grand footsteps of Animal Kingdom.
Last year's Kentucky Derby winner won the Spiral Stakes before taking on Churchill Downs.
Went the Day Well is hoping to make it two in a row. The three-year-old also won the Spiral Stakes, and he beat Animal Kingdom's time by almost a second.
2. Take Charge Indy: 16/1
There is a lot to like about this pace-setting horse. He may be a great find with an optimal post draw. You might want to get your money in on him now, because a good draw will make Take Charge Indy sneaky hot as he gets out in front of the field.
Consider that he was the gate-to-wire winner of the Florida Derby, and you can see that this horse loves to get after it.
3. Trinniberg: 45/1
The question will be: how long does a struck match stay lit? Trinniberg is a sprinter that can blow any contender away out of the gate.
His world-class speed comes with a caveat. Many believe he will tucker out by the end of the mammoth Derby.
A Miami Herald report says the Trinniberg camp is bursting with confidence that their horse can handle the mile-and-a-half Derby. If he has the endurance, the speed will not be an issue.
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