Journalism remains favored in Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 6

Hours before squaring off as the two favorites in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), Journalism and Citizen Bull closed as the top two choices in Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 6.

The final future wager in advance of the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1) opened on Thursday and closed on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. ET. Just as in Pool 5, Journalism ranked as the 5-1 favorite based off eye-catching wins in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) and San Felipe (G2).

Reigning champion two-year-old male Citizen Bull settled at 8-1, down from 9-1 in Pool 5. He traded places with Sovereignty, a 7-1 chance in Pool 5 who drifted to 9-1 in Pool 6 due to a recent runner-up finish in the Florida Derby (G1).

Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Sandman (9-1) matched Sovereignty as the co-third choice in Pool 6, while Florida Derby hero Tappan Street (14-1), San Felipe runner-up and Santa Anita Derby entrant Barnes (16-1), Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier Luxor Cafe (19-1), and two-time Grade 1 winner Chancer McPatrick (19-1) were the only others to close at less than 20-1.

Chancer McPatrick is slated to start in Tuesday’s postponed Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland, where he’ll face Burnham Square (31-1), East Avenue (45-1), Owen Almighty (48-1), River Thames (49-1), Admiral Dennis (75-1), and Render Judgment (225-1).

The next tier of preferred betting interests included Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Tiztastic (22-1), Virginia Derby conqueror American Promise (23-1), and Arkansas Derby third-place finisher Coal Battle (25-1). The “All Other Three-Year-Olds” option closed at 26-1, with bettors seemingly acknowledging the unlikelihood of a serious Kentucky Derby contender emerging from complete obscurity four weeks out from the first Saturday in May.

Captain Cook (34-1), winner of the Withers S., settled at the shortest price among horses entered in the Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct, which was slated to take place a couple hours after the closing of Pool 6. The other Wood Memorial entrants in Pool 6 were Grande (46-1), Rodriguez (62-1), Statesman (95-1), Sand Devil (124-1), Passion Rules (152-1), McAfee (162-1), Omaha Omaha (180-1), Tiger Twenty Four (285-1), and My Mitole (330-1). Hill Road (95-1) entered the Wood Memorial, but scratched due to a fever.

Baeza, a fourth Santa Anita Derby entrant, closed at 53-1.

Gotham (G3) winner Flood Zone (45-1) and the Japan-based duo of Dragon (244-1) and Shin Forever (487-1) wound up as longshots after finishing seventh, sixth, and fourth in Saturday’s UAE Derby (G2), about five hours before Pool 6 betting closed.

Rounding out the betting interests were Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) 1-2 finishers Final Gambit (30-1) and Flying Mohawk (140-1), Arkansas Derby runner-up Publisher (33-1), Louisiana Derby (G2) second- and fifth place finishers Chunk of Gold (59-1) and Built (139-1), Florida Derby fourth-place finisher Madaket Road (127-1), and Sunland Park Derby runner-up Caldera (158-1).

Total betting across the six Kentucky Derby Future Wager pools was $2,330,748, up 13.6% from the $2,052,391 wagered in advance of the 2024 Kentucky Derby.