Uncle Mo looms as strong favorite in final Derby Future Pool

Uncle Mo is scheduled to make his final Derby prep in the Wood Memorial (Adam Coglianese Photography) Repole Stable’s unbeaten champion UNCLE MO (Indian Charlie) (#22), who has yet to be challenged in his four career races, looms as a strong favorite when the third and final betting pool in Churchill Downs’ Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW) opens its three-day run on Friday. The Todd Pletcher-trained son of Indian Charlie was the narrow 3-1 favorite in the March 11-13 second pool of the Derby Future bet, edging the Mutuel Field, or “All Others” (#24), which closed at odds of 7-2. But Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia’s morning line odds for KDFW Pool 3 forecast Uncle Mo to be the 3-1 favorite over rising stars THE FACTOR (War Front) (#19), the Bob Baffert-trained winner of the Rebel (G3) at Oaklawn Park who is listed at 6-1, and the Myung Kwon Cho owned-and-trained PREMIER PEGASUS (Fusaichi Pegasus) (#14), winner of the San Felipe (G2) at Santa Anita and an 8-1 shot in Pool 3. The latter was not a wagering interest in either of the first two KDFW pools of 2011, but emerged as a major Kentucky Derby contender with his 7 3/4-length victory in Santa Anita’s San Felipe. Wagering on Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 3 opens at noon (EDT) on Friday at racetracks and off-track betting centers and through TwinSpires.com and other advance deposit wagering platforms. Betting on the pool is scheduled to close at 6 p.m. on Sunday. The 137th running of the Kentucky Derby (G1) will be run on Saturday, May 7, at Churchill Downs.

Although there is a major Kentucky Derby prep race on this weekend’s schedule
in the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park, the final KDFW pool of
2011 will be conducted in advance of stakes races that are traditionally among
the most important indicators of success in the big race at Churchill Downs on
the first Saturday in May. Next week’s April 9 stakes schedule features the $1
million Wood Memorial (G1) at Aqueduct, which is scheduled to be the final
Kentucky Derby prep for Uncle Mo, and the $1 million Santa Anita Derby (G1),
which figures to attract Premier Pegasus. The April 16 schedule is headed by the
$1 million Arkansas Derby (G1), which could be the final Kentucky Derby prep for
The Factor, and the $750,000 Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland. Other preps still
to be run after Sunday’s conclusion of the final KDFW pool include the $250,000
Illinois Derby (G3) at Hawthorne Park, Keeneland’s $200,000 Lexington (G3) and
the $200,000 The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial (G3) on the April 30 “Opening Night”
program at Churchill Downs.

The Kentucky Derby Future Wager provides fans with opportunities to wager on
potential contenders for the famed “Run for the Roses” at odds that could be
much more attractive than those available on the day of America’s greatest race.
It offers win and exacta wagering, and all bets are $2 minimum wagers, and there
are no refunds on any KDFW wager. If it is determined that an individual horse
has suffered an illness, injury or other circumstance that would prevent the
horse from competing in Kentucky Derby, wagering on that interest will be
suspended immediately.

Total wagering during the first two KDFW pools of 2011 hovered just under the
$1 million mark at $969,191. Winning payouts on Pool 3 will be determined by the
odds that are in place when wagering concludes on Sunday.

The Mutuel Field (#24), which includes all three-year-olds other than the 23
individual horses on the roster of Pool 3 wagering interests, has been installed
at 10-1 odds in Pool 3, and is the co-third choice in Pool 3 with Holy Bull (G3)
winner DIALED IN (Mineshaft) (#6) and Fountain of Youth (G2) winner SOLDAT (War
Front) (#17). Both Dialed In and Soldat are expected to run in Sunday’s Florida
Derby, along with KDFW Pool 3 wagering interests TO HONOR AND SERVE (Bernardini)
(#20), STAY THIRSTY (Bernardini) (#18) and WATCH ME GO (West Acre) (#23).

Eight new horses are listed among the betting interests in KDFW Pool 3. That
group includes the winners of last week’s round of major Kentucky Derby preps:
Spiral (G3) winner ANIMAL KINGDOM (Leroidesanimaux [Brz]) (#1), Louisiana Derby
(G2) winner PANTS ON FIRE (Jump Start) (#13) and Sunland Park Derby (G3) winner
TWICE THE APPEAL (Successful Appeal) (#21). Other Pool 3 newcomers are Spiral
runner-up DECISIVE MOMENT (With Distinction) (#7); MR. COMMONS (Artie Schiller)
(#10), who is expected to run in the Santa Anita Derby; Louisiana Derby
runner-up NEHRO (Mineshaft) (#12); Premier Pegasus and Tampa Bay Derby (G3)
winner Watch Me Go.

Wagering interests for the Kentucky Derby Future Wager are chosen by a panel
that includes West Coast correspondent Brad Free and national handicapper Mike
Watchmaker, both of Daily Racing Form, and John Asher, vice president of Racing
Communications at Churchill Downs.

Information on the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, including real time odds, can
be found at the official Kentucky Derby event Web site at
www.KentuckyDerby.com.

2011
Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool
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