November 23, 2024

Mutuel field 3-1 favorite in third Kentucky Derby Future Wager

Last updated: 2/24/15 3:40 PM


Mutuel field 3-1 favorite in third Kentucky Derby Future
Wager












With just over nine weeks remaining until the 141st running of the Kentucky
Derby (G1), uncertainty surrounds some of the Derby’s major contenders and it is
reflected in the morning line odds for this week’s

third of four pools of Churchill Downs’ Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW)
,
which launches its three-day run on Friday and concludes on Sunday.

The Mutuel Field, or “All Others,” which includes all three-year-olds other
than the 23 individual horses among Pool 3’s 24 wagering interests, is the 3-1
favorite in Churchill Downs’ handicapper Mike Battaglia’s morning line. That’s a
customary, though not exclusive spot for that wagering interest in the
next-to-last pool of the wager that was introduced in 1999. Battaglia’s 3-1 odds
reflect increased interest in individual horses in the pool, but given, late
starts on pre-Derby racing campaigns by some of the pool’s individual stars,
“All Others” should emerge as a clear fan’s choice in Pool 3.

Three-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert appears to be in an
enviable spot with nine weeks remaining before Kentucky Derby 141 as he
conditions both of the 8-1 co-second choices in KDFW Pool 3: reigning champion
juvenile American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) and unbeaten Dortmund (Big
Brown).

While the latter has run off four wins since his November 2 racing debut that
include the Los Alamitos Futurity (G1) and the recent Robert B. Lewis (G3) at
Santa Anita, American Pharoah is one of the wagering interests with some
questions to answer. He has not raced since September 27, when he rolled to
victory in the FrontRunner (G1) at Santa Anita. American Pharoah missed a
planned start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita because of
injury, and is now training toward a planned return to competition in the
$750,000 Rebel (G2) on March 14 at Oaklawn Park.

The other major player in KDFW Pool 3 that is surrounded by a bit of mystery
is Texas Red (Afleet Alex), who romped to an easy victory in the Breeders’ Cup
Juvenile and was the 9-1 favored individual horse in early February’s second
Derby Futures pool. He made his three-year-old debut in a strong runner-up
finish to Lord Nelson (Pulpit) in the seven-furlong San Vicente (G2) on February
1 at Santa Anita, but Texas Red suffered a foot abscess following that race.
Trainer and co-owner Keith Desormeaux still has the May 2 Kentucky Derby as the
colt’s target, but Texas Red has not worked since the ailment was discovered.
Battaglia placed his Pool 3 odds at 12-1.

The Kentucky Derby Future Wager enables fans to wager on the Kentucky Derby
well in advance of the race at odds that could be much more attractive than
those offered on the day of the race. Winning payouts in all KDFW pools are
determined by the odds that are in place at the end of each respective betting
pool. Those winning mutuel payouts for the $2 minimum win and exacta wagers
placed in each Kentucky Derby Future pool will be made following the running of
the Kentucky Derby on May 2.

Pool 3 of the Derby Future Wager will run concurrent to the only Kentucky
Oaks Future Wager pool of 2015. Wagering on both pools is set to open at noon
(EST) on Friday. Betting on the Kentucky Derby pool will close at 6 p.m. on
Sunday, while the Kentucky Oaks pool will remain open for an addition 30 minutes
before closing at 6:30 p.m.

Wagering on Pool 3 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager will be offered at
Churchill Downs and racetracks throughout North America; on the web via
TwinSpires.com, the
official online wagering site of the Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs Inc.,
and other advance deposit wagering sites; and at other simulcast centers and
off-track wagering sites. No scratches or betting refunds are permitted in the
Kentucky Derby Future wager, but betting will be suspended immediately on a
wagering interest in any KDFW pool if Churchill Downs determines that injury,
illness or other circumstance revealed during a pool would prevent a horse from
competing in the race.

Wagering was brisk in the second KDFW pool that ran from February 6-8. A
total of $448,598 in win and exacta wagers was placed during the three days of
betting, which was an 18 percent increase in betting from the same pool in 2014.
The “All Others” interest was the odds-on 3-5 favorite in November 28-30 opening
KDFW pool, which attracted total wagering of $234,574.










Dortmund (right) is the co-second choice in the third KDFW along with stablemate American Pharoah

(Benoit Photos)

Total wagering in the earlier two pools of this year stands at $683,172.
Total betting in the 2014 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, the first to feature four
wagering pools, was $1,324,466.

Todd Pletcher, who saddled Super Saver to a Kentucky Derby win in 2010, is
the trainer of five of the 23 individual horses on the Pool 3 betting roster.
The Pletcher group includes Carpe Diem (Giant’s Causeway), the winner of
Keeneland’s Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and runner-up to Texas Red in the Breeders’
Cup Juvenile. Carpe Diem is another colt who has yet to make his racing debut in
2015, but is scheduled to compete in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs
on March 7.

Pletcher, who trained six of the 23 individual horses in KDFW Pool 2, also
trains the unbeaten Itsaknockout (Lemon Drop Kid), who won last week’s Fountain
of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park via disqualification; Champagne (G1) winner
Daredevil (More Than Ready); unbeaten Withers (G3) winner Far From Over (Blame);
and unbeaten Khozan (Distorted Humor), who won an allowance race at Gulfstream
Park on Sunday.

Another horse expected to attract strong support in the upcoming pool is
Ralph M. Evans’ Upstart (Flatter), the winner of Gulfstream Park’s Holy Bull
(G2) who was disqualified from first to second in last week’s Fountain of Youth.
Trainer Rick Violette’s New York-bred has a record of 3-2-1 in six career races.
Another New York-bred star likely to garner increased support in the pool is
International Star (Fusaichi Pegasus), who won last week’s Risen Star (G2) at
Fair Grounds after winning the Lecomte (G3) over the New Orleans track in his
previous outing.

Other prominent players heading into Pool 3 include Ocean Knight (Curlin),
the Kiaran McLaughlin-trained winner of Tampa Bay Downs’ Sam F. Davis (G3) and a
15-1 risk in Battaglia’s morning line odds; Ocho Ocho Ocho (Street Sense),
winner of the $1 million Delta Jackpot (G3) and listed at 20-1 as the James
Cassidy trainee prepares for his 2015 debut; and Far Right (Notional), winner of
the Southwest (G3) and Smarty Jones at Oaklawn Park for trainer Ron Moquett.

KDFW Pool 3 wagering interests that were not a part of Pool 2 include Bolo
(Temple City), winner of the Eddie Logan on turf at Santa Anita; recent maiden
winner Danzig Moon (Malibu Moon), Far From Over, Keen Ice (Curlin), third in the
Risen Star; and War Story (War Front), runner-up to Far Right in both the
Southwest and Smarty Jones.

Wagering interests for the Kentucky Derby Future Wager were chosen by
Churchill Downs committee that included Racing Secretary Ben Huffman, Senior
Director of Communications and Media Services Darren Rogers, Director of
Programming and Senior Racing Analyst Jill Byrne, Player Services Manager Gary
Palmisano and Vice President, Racing Communications John Asher.

After the closing of KDFW Pool 3, one Derby Futures pool will remain on the
schedule prior to Kentucky Derby 141. The fourth and final KDFW pool is set for
five weeks before the Derby and will run from March 27-29.

Real-time odds during the three-day run of KDFW Pool 3 and other information
the wager and the Kentucky Derby are available at the official event Web site at

http://www.kentuckyderby.com/racing-wagering/future-wager/pool-3-final-odds
.

Free Brisnet Ultimate Past Performances for wagering interests in Pool 2 of
the Kentucky Derby Future Wager are available at

http://www.brisnet.com/brisnet_promos/KDFW2.pdf
. Brisnet also has
complimentary past performances for all Triple Crown nominees at

http://www.brisnet.com/brisnet_promos/TC15noms.pdf
.



Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com