2012 Kentucky Derby Picks: Top Horses That Will Shine

The 138th Kentucky Derby is almost here. That means it is time for you to decide who you think will win this year's Run for the Roses.

Several horses have been labeled as favorites. Bodemeister leads the pack with Union Rags, Gemologist and Daddy Nose Best nipping at his heels.

But which of these horses will live up to their considerable hype?

Not all top horses shine on race day, but these five horses will.

Creative Cause

Creative Cause has finished third or better in seven career races. He will need to prove he can last in this year's Kentucky Derby.

Of Creative Cause's seven career races, three were less than one mile. He has great sprinting speed, but Kentucky Oaks' 1.25-mile course is no small task.

Creative Cause's parents, Giant's Causeway and Dream of Summer, both had notable endurance. Dream of Summer won the Apple Summer Handicap and Giant's Causeway nearly defeated legendary Tiznow at the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Trainer Mike Harrington is known for training young horses. Training Creative Cause to run this distance would be his most noteworthy job to date.

Creative Cause will be in this race until the end because of his speed and pedigree.

Gemologist

Gemologist has two career races and two career first-place finishes. That probably has something to do with his 6-1 odds heading into the race.

In Gemologist's corner will be trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey Javier Castellano. Pletcher won the 2010 Kentucky Derby with Super Saver. Castellano rode Bernardini to a victory in the 2006 Preakness and Ghostzapper to a 2004 Breeders' Cup Classic win.

Gemologist's sire is Tiznow. Tiznow descends from Man o' War, and is still the only two-time Breeders' Cup Classic winner. Gemologist inherits endurance and a good amount of speed from his father.

Among favorites, Gemologist is a frequently mentioned name. Training, pedigree and expert riding all work in his favor.

Now, all he has to do is capitalize.

Daddy Nose Best

Daddy Nose Best has raced in two races this year, and finished first in both. The 2012 Kentucky Derby would be gravy on an outstanding year.

Daddy Nose Best's victories at the Sunland Derby and the El Camino Real Derby were both Grade III races, but longer tracks. This will prepare him for the 1.25 mile Kentucky Oaks course.

Steve Asmussen is Daddy Nose Best's trainer. He has trained over 6,000 winning horses in his career including back-to-back Horses of the Year in Curlin and Rachel Alexandria. He comes from a racing family, and understands every nuance of training champion horses.

Garrett Gomez will be Daddy Nose Best's jockey. He provides another advantage because of his 10 Breeders' Cup victories and back-to-back Eclipse awards in 2007 and 2008.

Daddy Nose Best has everything working in his favor. He will be in the thick of things until the finish line is crossed.

Bodemeister

Bodemeister is the current favorite in this year's Kentucky Derby. He has had recent success and elite training from Bob Baffert.

Baffert may be the best horse trainer in the world today. He has won the Preakness stakes five times, and produced back-to-back Kentucky Derby champions in 1997 and 1998. He understands what it takes to win the world's biggest races.

Bodemeister is coming off a stunning performance in the Arkansas Derby, which he won by an astounding 9.5 lengths.

There are no major flaws in Bodemeister's gait. He has speed, endurance and excellent preparation. He will be in this race until the very end.

The only thing standing in Bodemeister's way could be history. No other horse has ever won the Kentucky Derby after not racing at all as a two-year old.

Union Rags

Union Rags has not finished lower than third in his five career races. He will continue this impressive trend in the 138th Kentucky Derby.

Union Rags has all the qualities of a winning horse.

Michael Mantz is a world-class trainer with Olympic-grade equestrian experience. Julien Leparoux is a two-time Eclipse award-winning jockey and Union Rags' bloodline runs through 1964 Kentucky Derby champ Northern Dancer.

Union Rags has taken first in three of his first five races. He is used to success in sprint and endurance events.

He will be a tough colt to surpass in this year's Run for the Roses.