Before Forte shrugged off a problematic trip to prevail in the Florida Derby (G1), bettors had already declared their faith in the champion by backing him into 5-2 favoritism in Pool 6 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW). The final pool ahead of the May 6 Run for the Roses was conducted from Thursday through Saturday at 6 p.m. (ET), closing prior to the major domestic preps.
If Forte was a case of job done, albeit with greater suspense, in the Florida Derby, Angel of Empire’s conquest of the Arkansas Derby (G1) made his 29-1 price in Pool 6 look generous. Yet the Brad Cox pupil had traded a lot higher in past KDFW offerings – 125-1 in Pool 3, 112-1 in Pool 4, and following his breakout win in the Risen Star (G2), 38-1 in Pool 5. He opened Pool 6 at odds of 30-1.
Forte, the only Pool 6 interest under double-digits, adhered to his 5-2 morning line. The Todd Pletcher pupil, who has ranked as the favored individual from Pool 2 on, took on overall favoritism as a 3-1 chance in Pool 5.
Stablemates Kingsbarns and Tapit Trice came next in Pool 6 popularity, each at 11-1, but with different trajectories.
Kingsbarns was a market mover in the wake of his Louisiana Derby (G2) romp on March 25. First offered in Pool 3 when 32-1, a 35-1 shot in Pool 4 and 43-1 in Pool 5, he was listed at 20-1 on the morning line in this final pool, and shortened further.
Tapit Trice, 45-1 in Pool 3, tumbled to 15-1 in Pool 4 after a sensational Gulfstream allowance. During Pool 5 held over the weekend of his Tampa Bay Derby (G2) victory, Tapit Trice was bet down to 8-1. That was his starting price here, and he inched up ahead of his final prep in this Saturday’s Blue Grass (G1).
Japanese-based UAE Derby (G2) winner Derma Sotogake, pegged at 40-1 on the morning line, steamed into 13-1. San Felipe (G2) hero Practical Move, who drifted from 8-1 to 14-1 by the close of trade, will make this Saturday’s Santa Anita Derby (G1) his stepping stone to Churchill Downs. The mutuel field of “All other three-year-olds,” a 15-1 chance on the Pool 6 morning line, closed at 17-1.
Most notably among other efforts after closure on Saturday evening, Mage (46-1) and Cyclone Mischief (88-1) were respectively second and third to Forte in the Florida Derby, and Reincarnate (24-1) was third behind Angel of Empire at Oaklawn Park.
Churchill reported that Pool 6 handled a total of $369,443 ($271,230 in the Win pool and $98,213 in Exactas). For further details, including will-pays and exacta probables for all pools, see the KDFW page on kentuckyderby.com.
| NAME | FINAL ODDS | ML ODDS |
| 1. Angel of Empire | 29-1 | 30-1 |
| 2. Arctic Arrogance | 165-1 | 80-1 |
| 3. Blazing Sevens | 46-1 | 50-1 |
| 4. Bourbon Bash | 100-1 | 99-1 |
| 5. Classic Car Wash | 169-1 | 80-1 |
| 6. Confidence Game | 29-1 | 25-1 |
| 7. Continuar | 54-1 | 99-1 |
| 8. Cyclone Mischief | 88-1 | 80-1 |
| 9. Derma Sotogake | 13-1 | 40-1 |
| 10. Disarm | 33-1 | 40-1 |
| 11. Dreamlike | 143-1 | 80-1 |
| 12. Dubyuhnell | 111-1 | 80-1 |
| 13. Fort Bragg | 58-1 | 80-1 |
| 14. Forte | 5-2 | 5-2 |
| 15. Geaux Rocket Ride | 33-1 | 20-1 |
| 16. Hayes Strike | 404-1 | 80-1 |
| 17. Hit Show | 30-1 | 20-1 |
| 18. I Don’t Get It | 238-1 | 99-1 |
| 19. Instant Coffee | 49-1 | 20-1 |
| 20. Jace’s Road | 118-1 | 80-1 |
| 21. Kingsbarns | 11-1 | 20-1 |
| 22. Mage | 46-1 | 80-1 |
| 23. Mandarin Hero | 99-1 | 80-1 |
| 24. Mendelssohns March | 212-1 | 99-1 |
| 25. National Treasure | 44-1 | 50-1 |
| 26. Practical Move | 14-1 | 8-1 |
| 27. Raise Cain | 81-1 | 40-1 |
| 28. Red Route One | 24-1 | 25-1 |
| 29. Reincarnate | 24-1 | 20-1 |
| 30. Rocket Can | 32-1 | 30-1 |
| 31. Shadow Dragon | 299-1 | 99-1 |
| 32. Skinner | 49-1 | 30-1 |
| 33. Slip Mahoney | 130-1 | 80-1 |
| 34. Sun Thunder | 113-1 | 80-1 |
| 35. Tapit Trice | 11-1 | 8-1 |
| 36. Two Eagles River | 38-1 | 99-1 |
| 37. Two Phil’s | 21-1 | 40-1 |
| 38. Verifying | 50-1 | 30-1 |
| 39. Wild On Ice | 190-1 | 80-1 |
| 40. All Other 3-Year-Olds | 17-1 | 15-1 |
