Kentucky Derby Field 2012: Pacesetters Capable of Stealing Run for the Roses

In pretty much every horse race, there are a couple of contenders who get to the front of the field quickly and set the pace. While that pace may be quick in a normal race, it is only intensified in the Kentucky Derby as many of the world's top horses are competing.

Although setting the pace means a lot with regards to moves that the other jockeys will have to make over the course of the race, it doesn't have a huge bearing on the results much of the time.

Usually when a horse gets out to a big lead, they tend to fade in the latter stages of the race.

That isn't always the case, though, as there are times when not even the best horses can keep up with a lightning-fast pace.

With that said, here are three possible pacesetters who aren't among the betting favorites, but have a shot to steal the race. Odds via kentuckyderby.com.

Trinniberg (50/1)

There are a lot of opinions regarding Trinniberg heading into the Kentucky Derby, but one thing that most agree upon, is that he'll be the one leading the pack very early in the run for the roses.

Trinniberg is an elite sprinter and he has had a ton of success in shorter races, but he has yet to prove that he can get the job done over the long haul.

Because of that, he is a big-time underdog at 50/1, but it might not hurt to take a shot with him since he's almost guaranteed to be at the front for much of the race.

He has a nice post position at No. 9 that should allow him to get to the front fairly quickly, and there is no doubt that jockey Willie Martinez will be eager to do just that.

Trinniberg has shot to the front in each of his past two races and has hung onto the lead both times. Doing it against a top-flight field in the Kentucky Derby will be an entirely different task, but if he can do the same thing and hold up about 20-30 seconds longer, then he has a chance.

Take Charge Indy (15/1)

Despite the fact that he's still a 10/1 shot, Take Charge Indy has garnered a lot more interest as of late since winning the Florida Derby in late March. Perhaps more important than the horse itself, though, is the man who will be guiding it.

Calvin Borel has won three of the past five Kentucky Derbys and is considered by many to be the best the sport has to offer. His style of getting his horse to the rail has worked quite effectively and he'll have a good chance to do it on Saturday.

Take Charge Indy will start from the third spot, and with two non-factors inside of him, Borel won't have much of an issue getting to his preferred position on the track.

Borel seems to have a good feel for the horse as he has led him to a win and a place since taking over, and you simply can't count out Borel in the Kentucky Derby.

Hansen (10/1)

Hansen may not be up there among the bettors' favorites with Bodemeister, Union Rags and Gemologist as he is 10/1, but perhaps he should be.

Hansen has had nothing, but success over the course of his racing life as he has four career victories and has never finished worse than second.

He likes to shoot out to the lead early and that strategy helped him pick up a huge victory last year at the Breeders Cup Juvenile as he outlasted highly-touted horses like Union Rags and Creative Cause.

He almost came through at the Blue Grass Stakes as well, but late charger Dullahan passed him in the closing stages of the race.

Hansen has speed to burn and he has proven, perhaps more than any other horse in the field, that he is able to hold a lead once he gets it.

If you're looking for a horse in the second tier to latch onto, Hansen may be a good choice as he can set a pace and keep it.