Top 10 Kentucky Derby Contenders

Las Vegas, NV -- The attention in horse betting is starting to point to the 2012 Kentucky Derby with contenders racing on a weekly basis. There are a lot of contenders this early in the year, but here is a look at the top 10 horses that we could be seeing in the winner's circle in May.

Top 10 Kentucky Derby Contenders

Here are the top ten contenders that could win the Kentucky Derby

1. Union Rags - He has won three of four with the only loss coming to Hansen in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, and he would have won that race had he not drifted out in the stretch. The concern is that he is running just twice before the Derby in the Fountain of Youth Stakes next month and the Florida Derby about a month later.

2. Hansen - He has yet to lose in three starts and has a victory over Union Rags. Even though Hansen currently leads the graded earnings list for the Kentucky Derby, there are some doubts as to whether he can win the race as his pedigree is not that great and he is a horse that always wants the lead. Rarely do horses win the Kentucky Derby going wire-to-wire.

3. Creative Cause - This horse was third in the Juvenile but was right there, losing by only a length. The question is whether he will be able to handle the distance but we should know the answer soon as his next start is at seven furlongs in the San Vicente Stakes.

4. Sky Kingdom - The pedigree for Sky Kingdom is an excellent one for the Kentucky Derby. Unlike many other contenders, this horse was bred to go a mile and a quarter or longer.

5. Gemologist - This horse could be the one that is the best of the Kentucky Derby contenders for trainer Todd Pletcher. The horse has a solid pedigree and should like the distance.

6. Discreet Dancer - Todd Pletcher's horse is unbeaten in two starts and has looked extremely good winning by over nine lengths in his debut and by more than five lengths in his second race. The pedigree for Discreet Dancer is a concern but you can say that with a number of contenders.

7. Algorithms - This is another from the Pletcher barn who has looked really strong. He is the son of Bernardini and is unbeaten in two starts including a nice win over Consortium. We will see how good he is when he goes against Hansen in the Holy Bull Stakes.

8. Out of Bounds - He is coming off a win in the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita as he beat Secret Circle. It is hard to like a California horse to win the Kentucky Derby but horse betting trends continue to change all the time. Out of Bounds will go next in the San Felipe Stakes in March.

9. Alpha - He won the Count Fleet Stakes at Aqueduct earlier this month. He is another son of Bernardini and is loaded with talent. He has had a lot of trouble in the gate though but if trainer Kiaran McLaughlin can get the horse to settle down, he could be an interesting longshot in Kentucky Derby betting.

10. Liaison - We have to throw in a Bob Baffert horse in our top 10 as Liaison won the CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park in late December.