Kentucky Derby Field 2013: Analyzing All Dark-Horses and Favorites

As the Kentucky Derby field gets ready for Saturday's race, there are plenty of favorites and plenty of dark-horses to consider this year. 

While there are two presumed favorites in the race, there are also horses that can surprise the world by taking the crown at Churchill Downs. 

As you place your final bets on the race, here are two favorites and two under-the-radar candidates to consider putting your money on. 

Favorites

Orb: 4-1 Odds

One of the popular choices to win heading into the Derby is Orb. A heavy favorite to win the race, according to Yahoo Sports, Orb will be one of the safer horses to put money on. 

There are various reasons for Orb being a strong contender in this year's field. For starters, he has won three consecutive races heading into Saturday, including the Florida Derby. 

Orb is also a descendant of two of the most legendary horses of all-time. He was sired by Malibu Moon, a distant relative of Secretariat, and Lady Liberty, who was sired by 1990 Derby winner Unbridled. 

If you're going to put your money on a favorite, Orb is certainly a safe choice. 

Goldencents: 11-2 Odds

Another favorite going into the Kentucky Derby is Goldencents. According to Andrew Beyer of the Seattle Times, Goldencents may be the best horse to place a big bet on. 

One of the biggest storylines surrounding Goldencents is his jockey, Kevin Krigger, who is attempting to become the first black jockey to win the Kentucky Derby, and his best chance may be in 2013. 

At the Santa Anita Derby on April 6, Goldencents won by 1 1/4 lengths, certainly an impressive feat this year. 

According to Breyer, the Derby generally favors horses that are great runners down the stretch, and he says that Goldencents may be the best at that. 

While he is not one of the top two favorites, Goldencents has plenty of momentum going into Saturday and should be considered one of the better horses to bet on. 

Dark-Horses

Will Take Charge: 20-1 Odds

While Will Take Charge doesn't have great odds in this year's field, he shares many characteristics of Orb, one of the race's favorites. 

Like Orb, Will Take Charge has a pedigree that includes Unbridled and Secretariat. Will Take Charge was sired by Unbridled's Song, the winner of the 1995 Breeder's Cup Juvenile. 

Will Take Charge is also the half-brother to Take Charge Indy, the winner of the 2012 Florida Derby. 

With two wins this year, Will Take Charge has shown flashes in the early going. He hasn't raced since the G2-Rebel, where he won and secured a spot at the Derby, so his trainer has had plenty of time to prepare Will Take Charge for the race. 

Like any dark horse, there are certainly some negatives that can be pointed out. However, Will Take Charge has the pedigree and the talent to prove the doubters wrong come Saturday. 

Oxbow: 33-1 Odds

Had Oxbow not been given second in post position, his odds may be way higher. 

This colt has flown under the radar for most of the year, but he may be poised to turn heads at Churchill Downs. 

Oxbow's sire, Awesome Again, has produced two Breeder's Cup winners in Round Pond and Wilco. So Oxbow's pedigree is certainly in his favor. 

At the G-2 Rebel Stakes this year, he finished second by just a head to Will Take Charge. 

As for Oxbow's jockey, Gary Stevens has one of the best resumes of any jockey out there, which includes three Derby wins in 1988, 1995 and 1997. Stevens is also notable for playing George Woolf, one of the greatest jockeys of all time, in the movie Seabiscuit.

Again, Oxbow is not turning many heads when it comes to bettors. But because of his pedigree, his decent success as of late and his jockey's talent, this colt may be one of the best dark-horses to place bets on.