Champion two-year-old male Essential Quality and unbeaten Sham S. (G3) winner Life Is Good are expected to compete for favoritism among individual betting interests in Pool 3 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which kicks off its three-day run on Friday.
Oddsmaker Mike Battaglia has pegged both colts at 8-1, the shortest price among 23 three-year-olds listed. The pari-mutuel field of “All Other 3-Year-Olds” (No. 24) is the overall 7-2 morning line favorite.
Pool 3 opens Friday at noon (ET) and closes Sunday at 6 p.m. Wagers can be placed online at www.TwinSpires.com.
Essential Quality will open his sophomore season in Monday’s Southwest S. (G3) at Oaklawn Park. Life Is Good is being pointed to March 6 San Felipe S. (G2) at Santa Anita.
Life Is Good is among a quartet for six-time Kentucky Derby winner Bob Baffert, who also has Concert Tour, Freedom Fighter, and Medina Spirit in Pool 3.
Saturday’s Risen Star S. (G2) at Fair Grounds includes Keepmeinmind, Mandaloun, Midnight Bourbon, and Mandaloun from Pool 3.
| 1. Caddo River | 12-1 |
| 2. Candy Man Rocket | 20-1 |
| 3. Concert Tour | 20-1 |
| 4. Dream Shake | 20-1 |
| 5. Essential Quality | 8-1 |
| 6. Fire At Will | 50-1 |
| 7. Freedom Fighter | 20-1 |
| 8. Greatest Honour | 15-1 |
| 9. Highly Motivated | 20-1 |
| 10. Hot Rod Charlie | 20-1 |
| 11. Jackie’s Warrior | 30-1 |
| 12. Keepmeinmind | 20-1 |
| 13. Life Is Good | 8-1 |
| 14. Mandaloun | 30-1 |
| 15. Medina’s Spirit | 20-1 |
| 16. Midnight Bourbon | 30-1 |
| 17. Nova Rags | 30-1 |
| 18. Prevalence | 20-1 |
| 19. Risk Taking | 15-1 |
| 20. Roman Centurian | 30-1 |
| 21. Senor Buscador | 30-1 |
| 22. Swiftsure | 30-1 |
| 23. The Great One | 20-1 |
| 24. All Other 3-Year-Olds | 7-2 |
