Uncle Mo closes KDFW as 3-1 favorite

Uncle Mo swept the Kentucky Derby Future Wager as the favorite (Adam Coglianese Photography)

Repole Stable’s unbeaten champion Uncle Mo, who has
yet to be challenged in his four career races, was bet down to 3-1
favoritism in the final betting pool of Churchill Downs’ Kentucky Derby
Future Wager (KDFW). In the process, the Todd Pletcher trainee became
the first individual interest to rule all three pools of the Future
Wager.

Uncle Mo has raced only once this season, taking the Timely Writer S.
at Gulfstream Park by 3 3/4 lengths on March 12 while going a mile.
Scheduled to make his final appearance before the May 7 Grade 1 Kentucky Derby
in next Saturday’s Grade 1 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, the bay colt
will try nine furlongs for the first time in that $1 million contest.

Grade 3 Holy Bull winner Dialed In was listed at 10-1 on the
morning line for the Future Wager following his subsequent second to
older stablemate Equestrio in a March 6 optional claiming event, but
redeemed himself and then some with a head score in Sunday’s Grade 1
Florida Derby. A 10-1 risk when the starting gate opened for the race at
5:46 p.m. (EDT), the Nick Zito trainee’s odds dropped sharply to 5-1
second favoritism when wagering in the pool ended. Churchill Downs
officials actually added five minutes to the pool because the results of
the Florida Derby were declared official so close to the end of the
pool.

Grade 2 winners To Honor and Serve and Soldat also competed in the Florida Derby, with the former finishing
another 6 3/4 lengths back in third. Soldat came in fifth, a total of 10
1/4 lengths behind Dialed In. That resulted in To Honor and Serve
remaining at his morning-line odds of 15-1 while Soldat finished the
Future Wager as the 17-1 seventh pick.

The Mutuel Field, or “All Others” betting interest, closed as the 8-1 third
choice, followed by impressive Grade 2 San Felipe scorer Premier Pegasus at 9-1 and
Grade 2 Rebel romper The Factor at
10-1. Premier Pegasus is scheduled to make his final Kentucky Derby prep in next
Saturday’s Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, while The Factor is on course for the
Grade 1 Arkansas Derby in two weeks.

In accordance with KDFW rules, wagering was suspended on Comma to the Top before the Future Wager opened when his connections informed
officials he would not be going to the Kentucky Derby.

Kentucky Derby fans wagered $392,910 during the April 1-3 pool to
lift total wagering for the three 2011 Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pools
to $1,362,101. The final pool betting figures included $269,354 wagered
to win and $123,556 in exacta betting. The overall wagering total for
all three pools was the fifth highest in the 13-year history of the
Kentucky Derby Future Wager and its largest three-pool betting total
since 2007.

The Kentucky Derby Future Wager provides fans with opportunities to wager on
potential contenders for the 137th Kentucky Derby at odds that could be much
more attractive than those available on race day. It offers win and exacta
wagering, and all bets are $2 minimum wagers. No refunds will be made on any
wager made during a KDFW pool.