Kentucky Derby Field 2012: Top Contenders and Their Trainers for the 2012 Race

Picking out the top contender for the Kentucky Derby has been challenging in the past, as only four of the betting favorites have won since 1980.

Big Brown was the last horse to do it in 2008.

The Kentucky Derby 2012 is considered a deep field without a clear favorite and several contenders.

Wednesday's post drawing helped separate some of those contenders from the pretenders.

Here's a breakdown to help you determine which horses actually are contenders for the Kentucky Derby 2012.

Dullahan

Dullahan's team cheered in approval of drawing the No. 5 post for the Derby.

Dullahan sits as one of the favorites for the race at 8/1 betting odds, and his trainer Dale Romans feels good about his horse's chances.

The 3-year-old colt has won at the Blue Grass and Breeders' Futurity and has a second-place finish at Palm Beach in the past two years.

Dullahan has also finished in the top five in all of the races it entered in these past two years.

Dullahan is a horse to watch on Saturday, coming from the successful No. 5 post.

Union Rags

Union Rags is currently the second betting favorite, at 9/2 odds for Saturday.

Union Rags is coming off a third-place finish at the Florida Derby but has won three times in the last two years at the Fountain of Youth, Champagne and Three Chimneys Saratoga Special.

Michael Matz, trainer of 2006 Kentucky Derby champion Barbaro, trains Union Rags while Julien Leparoux is the jockey.

Union Rags descends from the 1964 Kentucky Derby champion, so there is a lot of past success between Matz and Union Rags at the Kentucky Derby.

Look for Union Rags to run with Bodemeister at the start of the race and be in contention toward the end on Saturday.

Hansen

Hansen is somewhat of a darkhorse—for lack of a better term—for the Kentucky Derby 2012.

However, Hansen was fortunate to not draw the No. 1 post on Wednesday, which may be a good omen for the horse.

Hansen is a super-fast horse that has been running very well in his recent races.

In his last six races, Hansen has won four times and placed second in the other two. At the Breeders' Cup Juvenile he topped one of the Derby's favorites in Union Rags.

Trainer Michael J. Maker is hoping Hansen will use his speed and outside positioning to help him come out on top.

At a 10/1 favorite for the Derby, don't count out the horse on Saturday.