Kentucky Derby 2013: Unknowns Who Will Stun the Field

The 139th running of the Kentucky Derby features a slew of talented horses, but there are several sleepers in the 2013 field that should make a strong push in the Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs.

In the past four Kentucky Derbys, the odds-on favorite hasn't won, and the winner has come from the outside four slots on the past two occasions. These underdogs are scattered all across the starting gates but have the foundation and track record to pull off a stunner.

Here is a look at the odds and then a more detailed analysis on the top candidates that will shock the world and make the Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports all the more thrilling on Saturday, May 4.

Post	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Odds
1	Black Onyx	Joe Bravo	Kelly Breen	50-1
2	Oxbow	Gary Stevens	D. Wayne Lukas	30-1
3	Revolutionary	Calvin Borel	Todd Pletcher	10-1
4	Golden Soul	Robby Albarado	Dallas Stewart	50-1
5	Normandy Invasion	Javier Castellano	Chad Brown	12-1
6	Mylute	Rosie Napravnik	Tom Amoss	15-1
7	Giant Finish	Jose L. Espinoza	Anthony W. Dutrow	50-1
8	Goldencents	Kevin Krigger	Doug O'Neill	5-1
9	Overanalyze	Rafael Bejarano	Todd Pletcher	15-1
10	Palace Malice	Mike Smith	Todd Pletcher	20-1
11	Lines of Battle	Ryan Moore	Aidan O'Brien	30-1
12	Itsmyluckyday	Elvis Trujillo	Eddie Plesa, Jr.	15-1
13	Falling Sky	Luis Saez	John Terranova II	50-1
14	Verrazano	John R. Velazquez	Todd Pletcher	4-1
15	Charming Kitten	Edgar Prado	Todd Pletcher	20-1
16	Orb	Joel Rosario	Claude R. McGaughey III	7-2
17	Will Take Charge	Jon Court	D. Wayne Lukas	20-1
18	Frac Daddy	Victor Lebron	Kenny McPeek	50-1
19	Java's War	Julien Leparoux	Kenny McPeek	15-1
20	Vyjack	Garrett Gomez	Rudy Rodriguez	15-1

Frac Daddy (50-1)

From what trainer Ken McPeek says, it seems that Frac Daddy doesn't have the mental makeup to be a legitimate factor despite signs of improvement.

Amongst the four horses with the longest odds in the field, though, this thoroughbred is the prohibitive favorite to make some noise.

McPeek references the massive size that Frac Daddy possesses, which will help him as he attempts to navigate back toward the inside after starting in the No. 18 spot.

Though the trainer says Frac Daddy is lanky, jockey Victor Lebron provides testimony to the contrary, saying that his horse has gotten a lot stronger since his second-place finish at the Grade I Arkansas Derby (h/t Brisnet.com):

"

Since Oaklawn, looking at [Frac Daddy], he's filled out and body-wise he's gotten bigger. He's gotten a lot stronger, way stronger. He's been a way different horse since landing here. He got way stronger than what he was over there. He's just been getting tougher and tougher.

"

As the Daily Racing Form documented, McPeek was ecstatic to have the free-running Frac Daddy starting far out wide:

With room to roam and the power to weather both the physical demands of the track and the tight quarters down the stretch, there is all the potential in the world for Frac Daddy to at least place in the top three if he can maintain his composure.

Oxbow (30-1)

Three-time Kentucky Derby winner Gary Stevens gets the mount for Oxbow, bringing the refreshed, prolific jockey out of retirement. Oxbow is among the fastest horses in the field, and trainer D. Wayne Lukas has to be thrilled about his starting position.

50-1 long shot Black Onyx is to his left in the starting gates, which will allow Oxbow to establish early inside position and be able to undercut Todd Pletcher-contender Revolutionary entering the first turn.

The experience that Stevens has also can't be underestimated, and the fact that he has had time to adjust to Oxbow is absolutely critical. A fifth-place run at the Arkansas Derby isn't a good look, but Stevens has readjusted since.

Last week after an early workout, Stevens took to Twitter to express his excitement—something he wouldn't necessarily do unless he felt he had a chance to make a legitimate run:

"

I'm a happy man and Oxbow is a happy horse. Confidence booster this morning. Nice work out.

— Gary Stevens (@HRTVGary) April 22, 2013"

Lukas has four Kentucky Derby victories to his credit, and two of them were with Stevens in the saddle, which makes this one of the more formidable support teams for any horse. As long as Stevens doesn't turn Oxbow loose too early, a special run down the final stretch may be in store.

Palace Malice (20-1)

Another prolific trainer in Todd Pletcher has a whopping five horses in the lineup of 20, and Palace Malice is the best of his relative long shots to give him his second Derby title.

If not for a stunning comeback by Java's War at the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, Palace Malice would be entering Churchill Downs in much higher standing. He did finish second, though (h/t KentuckyDerby.com).

Pletcher has been effusive in his praise for how well Palace Malice works out, but it hasn't translated to more than one victory on the track.

Palace Malice, though, is among the chief candidates to break out with a victory given his massive upside.

The odds aren't quite as long as the other underdogs, but should he put it all together, there is a strong chance that Palace Malice could romp to a win and shock the horse racing community.