Kentucky Derby 2012 Predictions

Historic Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, will be the site once again, as we get ready for the 138^th edition of the Kentucky Derby. The Kentucky Derby 2012 is scheduled to get underway this Saturday evening at 6:24 PM ET. Tune in to NBC Sports beginning at 4 PM ET for extensive coverage of all 20 thoroughbreds competing in one of the richest competitions in the world of horse racing.

This year, we will have some of the most talented three-year-old colts competing for a first-place grand prize of $2 million bucks. Leading the way in the Kentucky Derby 2012 predictions favorites is none other than Bob Baffert’s Bodemeister. Looking for his fourth Run for the Roses title, Baffert certainly has a lot to smile about these days.

Listed as a clear, 4/1 frontrunner, the son of Empire Maker is without question the strongest horse on the field. How that will translate on race day remains to be seen. But for now, Kentucky Derby 2012 predictions specialists and oddsmakers around the world absolutely love the Arkansas Derby winner.

In the case of longtime Churchill Downs’ oddsmaker, Michael Battaglia, Bodemeister’s performance at Oakland Park certainly did the trick for him. His winning time of 1:48.71 was enough to tip the scales in Baffert’s favor in Battaglia’s opinion.

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“It’s almost entirely because of that big Beyer number he got,” he said. “His Arkansas Derby was just a freaky good race. You know how people look at the numbers, look at times. That was by far the fastest any of the 3-year-olds have run. It shows this horse had definite talent and could be brilliant. It was as simple as that.”

Furthermore, after drawing post position No.6 for Saturday’s race on Wednesday, the man who has been setting morning line betting odds at Churchill Downs since 1974 was sold on Bodemeister. In the end, Battaglia claims that the tiebreaker between Bodemeister and Union Rags was, once again, the Arkansas.

“Union Rags, on the other hand, has never had a break-out race like Bodemeister,” Battaglia added. “He got beat in the two biggest races he’s run in. Excuses maybe. But he still [got beat]. But if Bodemeister would have drawn a bad post, I could still switched them.”

Check out a complete list of Kentucky Derby 2012 predictions and their respective post positions for Cinco de Mayo’s historic race:

1. Daddy Long Legs: 22/1
2. Optimizer: 35/1
3. Take Charge Indy: 15/1
4. Union Rags: 17/4
5. Dullahan: 9/2
6. Bodemeister: 4/1
7. Rousing Sermon: 55/1
8. Creative Cause: 11/1
9. Trinniberg: 45/1
10. Daddy Knows Best: 25/1
11. Alpha: 14/1
12. Prospective: 45/1
13. Went The Day Well: 25/1
14. Hansen: 12/1
15. Gemologist: 25/1
16. El Padrino: 20/1
17. Done Talking: 35/1
18. Sabercat: 30/1
19. I’ll Have Another: 12/1
20. Liaison: 40/1

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