2012 Kentucky Derby Odds: Post Position Announcement Shifts Odds

Wednesday's unveiling of the 2012 Kentucky Derby post positions caused some slight shifting in the odds for Saturday's race.

The updated odds -- presented here to correspond with the horses' post positions -- are:

1. Daddy Long Legs 30/1
2. Optimizer 50/1
3. Take Charge Indy 15/1
4. Union Rags 9/2
5. Dullahan 8/1
6. Bodemeister 4/1
7. Rousing Sermon 50/1
8. Creative Cause 12/1
9. Trinniberg 50/1
10. Daddy Knows Best 15/1
11. Alpha 15/1
12. Prospective 30/1
13. Went The Day Well 20/1
14. Hansen 10/1
15. Gemologist 6/1
16. El Padrino 20/1
17. Done Talking 50/1
18. Sabercat 30/1
19. I'll Have Another 12/1
20. Liaison 50/1

The top horses, according to the odds, are Bodemeister and Union Rags, which are 4/1 and 9/2, respectively. This site tracks the evolving odds.

Before placing any bets, however, you may want check out this New York Times article about the crapshoot that is making odds. From the article,

The Churchill Downs oddsmaker, Mike Battaglia, made the Arkansas Derby winner Bodemeister the morning-line favorite for the 138th running of the Derby. Barely. He will break from the No. 6 post and was assigned odds of 4-1, a smidgen ahead of Union Rags, who will line up two gates inside at 9-2.

When asked about his analysis, Battaglia shrugged the shrug of a man who is essentially guessing. He has been setting the Derby morning line since 1975, and this was among his most puzzling.

The race is set for Saturday at 5 ET, although there is a bevy of TV coverage before and after the actual race.

For more coverage of the Kentucky Derby, check out SB Nation's Kentucky Derby Stream.

2012 Kentucky Derby Field: 'Rousing Sermon' Trainer Says Horse Is Pretty Chill, But Adds That He's 'Trying To Get Into The Big Time'

People in the Bay Area have a reputation for being laid back. Turns out their horses are much the same.

Kentucky Derby long shot Rousing Sermon -- as of Tuesday morning he was at 40/1, according to KentuckyDerby.info -- is apparently pretty chilled out himself.

From the San Francisco Examiner:

"He's a real laid-back horse," [trainer Jerry] Hollendorfer said of Rousing Sermon. "I could probably send him to China and it wouldn't bother him. But he's trying to get into the big time. And we'll find out soon if he can."

The 1¼-mile, two-minute hot-blooded race will surely test the steed, but Hollendorfer, a veteran of over 6,000 racing victories, likes his chances.

"It seems like there's going to be a considerable pace factor in the race," he said. "And our horse is a horse that comes from off the pace. And it looks like he can get the distance. So in theory, if you can get a fast pace up front, and be finishing at the end, you'd have a chance to run very well."

The Kentucky Derby will be this Saturday -- always the first Saturday of May -- at Churchill Downs in Louisville.

Union Rags and Bodemeister are the favorites at 9/2. But if you favor big returns over safe bets, then keep an eye on Rousing Sermon. The longest odds belong to Hero Of Order at 100/1.

For a schedule of Kentucky Derby events, check out this post. You can also go here for SB Nation's official Derby updates.

2012 Kentucky Derby: Preview And Schedule

Union Rags is the favorite at 9-2 to win The Kentucky Derby.