The 2012 Kentucky Derby is only just over a month away and the online sportsbooks are adding to the excitement by offering early Kentucky Derby betting odds. The horses that will be running in the 138th Kentucky Derby are not yet confirmed, but there is a pretty good idea and consensus about which ponies will be coming out of the gate as well as which horses have the best odds.
2012 Kentucky Derby Odds – As Of April 3rd, 2012
- Union Rags +450
- Creative Cause +800
- Hansen +1000
- Take Charge Indy +1200
- Bodemeister +1400
- Daddy Long Legs +1400
- Wrote +1600
- El Padrino +1600
- Went The Day Well +1600
- Daddy Nose Best +1600
- Gemologist +2000
- So Brilliant +2000
- I’ll Have Another +2000
- Mark Valeski +2000
- Prospective +2000
- Howe Great +2000
- Reveron +2000
- Optimizer +2000
Those are all of the horses with a 20/1 or better shot at winning this years Kentucky Derby. As you can see there are 3 horses with 10/1 odds or better. Let’s take a look at what these horses have accomplished so far this season and the reasoning behind them being the three favourites.
Union Rags +450
In his most recent race Union Rags finished third at the Florida Derby, losing to Take Charge Indy and Reveron, two other horses you can see on the Derby odds list. Union Rags was boxed in during this race however, which had an impact on him being able to use his full speed. Union Rags won 4 of his other 5 races this year and finished 2nd in the other to Hansen who is at +1000 to win the Derby (Creative Cause was third). Union Rags has been running mostly mile and 1/16 races, while the Kentucky Derby is a mile and 1/8. Many experts believe that because Union Rags breaks late the added distance will actually help him in the Derby.
Creative Cause +800
Creative Cause has won 4 of the 7 races he has taken part in this season, finishing second once and third twice. He has the ability to run with the best horses at the Derby, but the question is whether he will be able to win the big races. He finished third to Hansen and Union Rags in November at the Breeders Cup, but won his recent race at San Felipe over Bodemeister, who is another favored horse for the Derby.
Hansen +1000
Hansen has won 4 of his 5 races so far this season with his only loss coming in a 1 mile distance race (much shorter than the Derby). Hansen won the Breeders Cup over both of the two horses that are favoured more than him for the Derby and improved on that speed at Gotham in early March. I like Hansen at +1000 at this time because he has proven he can beat the top contenders and looks like a good horse for the added distance.
Kentucky Derby • Kentucky Derby 138 • odds