Kentucky Derby 2012: Why Union Rags Has Best Possible Shot at Triple Crown

There hasn't been a Triple Crown winner in horse racing in 33 years, and though it's highly likely that streak will turn to 34 this year, Union Rags has all the makings of a Triple Crown winner.

Though we've seen a long drought, there is no doubt that a horse will eventually put it all together and win the Triple Crown.

The number of horses involved, the luck of the draw with post positions, the variation in track length and the amount of talent on the track make the feat highly improbable; however, this year offers up a candidate who is a threat to take all three races.

Bodemeister is the Victim of an Unlucky Draw

The enamor surrounding Bodemeister continues to grow as the race approaches, but his shot at a Triple Crown went up in flames when the post positions were revealed.

The horse will be racing out of the sixth post, which isn't the end of the world, but it will make the first turn a nightmare given his style of racing. Bodemeister is lethal when he's racing on the front end, and he's facing a lot of adversity going into this race.

To win the Triple Crown, luck has to be in the winner's favor, and Bodemeister was simply unlucky.

Union Rags has the Repertoire of Skills to Win All Three Races

The question for most horses isn't will they win all three legs of the Triple Crown, it's can they. Union Rags has the raw speed to pull off the Preakness and the stamina to get it done at the Belmont, should his Triple Crown dreams remain intact heading into the third leg.

Union Rags may be the sort of horse we only see once in a generation. The Derby has been brutal in recent years for many highly-touted favorites, but Union Rags has all the makings of a true champion and serious Triple Crown threat.