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The 2012 Kentucky Derby odds currently posted in Las Vegas identify Fountain of Youth winner Union Rags as strictly the one to beat in this year's run for the roses. According to Wynn Las Vegas, the Kentucky Derby odds of Union Rags is 4-to-1, which makes him a strong favorite over second-choice El Padrino, winner of the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds in his previous start, whose Kentucky Derby odds are 12-to-1. A small, but select group of Kentucky contenders are garnering most of the attention in the Kentucky Derby odds coming out of Las Vegas. In addition to Union Rags and El Padrino, just four other colts have Kentucky Derby odds under 20-to-1—Hansen (12-to-1), Creative Cause (12-to-1), Alpha (12-to-1), Secret Circle (14-to-1) and Gemologist (14-to-1). This reflects the idea some racing pundits have put forward that this year's 3-year-old class is proving to be top-heavy, perhaps lacking in depth, but with a handful of clear-cut standouts. Union Rags, who narrowly lost out to Hansen for last year's champion 2-year-old honors, stamped himself as a legitimate Kentucky Derby favorite with an eye-catching victory in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park upon his sophomore unveiling. Union Rags is expected to remain in South Florida for his final Kentucky Derby tuneup in the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 31. If Union Rags manages to put together another strong performance in his next start, the 4-to-1 odds currently on offer in Vegas could seem like a gift come Kentucky Derby day. El Padrino, who hails from the powerful Todd Pletcher barn, is two-for-two this season, which includes his first stakes win in the Risen Star. He is currently stabled with Pletcher's string in South Florida and may very well try and tackle Union Rags in the Florida Derby, according to online reports. As for the other main contenders, 2-year-old champion Hansen disappointed when making his seasonal bow in the Holy Bull Stakes, but rebounded well to take the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct in impressive fashion. Plenty of bettors were back on board the Hansen bandwagon following that effort. The next stop will come at Keeneland for the Blue Grass Stakes on April 14. Alpha won the Count Fleet and Withers Stakes in New York this winter and will remain in the Empire State for his final Kentucky Derby prep in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial on April 7. Gemologist seems to be the current “wise guy” horse. Also from the Pletcher barn, Gemologist had been sight unseen all winter, but despite that was still getting action in the two Kentucky Derby Future Wager pools conducted by Churchill Downs earlier this year. The son of Tiznow showed why on March 16 when he came home a sharp winner in a Gulfstream Park allowance race. He is likely to ship to New York for his final Kentucky Derby prep in the Wood Memorial. Creative Cause and Secret Circle are both based on the West Coast. Creative Cause exits a win in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes and is bound for the Santa Anita Derby. Secret Circle has reeled off consecutive wins in the Southwest Stakes and Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park. He is expected to return to Hot Springs for the Arkansas Derby on April 7.
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