Field again favored in Derby future wager

Marty McGee,
Daily Racing Form

The mutuel field, which includes the winners of both prep races run this weekend, closed as the 3-1 favorite in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager when betting ended Sunday at 6 p.m. Eastern.

Awesome Act, winner of the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on Saturday, and Alphie's Bet, winner of the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita later that afternoon, both are part of the field, the 24th or all others option in Pool 2. The field closed as the 3-2 favorite in Pool 1, which ran Feb. 12-14.

Eskendereya drew easily the most play among the 23 separately listed wagering interests, closing as the 5-1 second choice. Then came Lookin At Lucky (9-1), Dublin (10-1), and Buddy s Saint (16-1). The lowest $2 exacta will-pay is $53.40 on the field-Eskendereya combination (24-11), while there are many five-figure will-pays among the longer shots.

Win handle was $269,306 and the exacta handle was $86,547 for a total of $355,853, which was down 6 percent from last year, when $380,420 was the combined handle on Pool 2. Typically, Pool 2 has drawn among the lowest handles in the three Derby pools that Churchill Downs has offered annually since 1999. The record Pool 2 handle is $511,655 in 2005.

Meanwhile, in the only Kentucky Oaks Future Wager pool of the year, Blind Luck closed Sunday evening as the 4-1 favorite, followed by Amen Hallelujah (6-1), Christine Daae (7-1), and the field (7-1). Handle was $61,901. There are no exactas offered with the Oaks futures.

Derby Pool 3 is set for March 26-28.

KENTUCKY DERBY FUTURES POOL 2
(No., Horse, Pool 1 odds, Pool 2 odds)
1. Aikenite, 54-1, 57-1
2. American Lion, 41-1, 38-1
3. Buddy s Saint, 10-1, 16-1
4. Caracortado, 3-2(f), 19-1
5. Connemara, 3-2(f), 46-1
6. Conveyance, 33-1, 28-1
7. D Funnybone, 3-2(f), 38-1
8. Dave in Dixie, 28-1, 22-1
9. Discreetly Mine, 3-2(f), 37-1
10. Dublin, 20-1, 10-1
11. Eskendereya, 22-1, 5-1
12. Jackson Bend, 27-1, 47-1
13. Lookin at Lucky, 8-1, 9-1
14. Nextdoorneighbor, 3-2(f), 99-1
15. Noble s Promise, 36-1, 26-1
16. Odysseus, 3-2(f), 25-1
17. Radiohead, 3-2(f), 19-1
18. Rule, 24-1, 20-1
19. Setusko, 3-2(f), 65-1
20. Sidney s Candy, 3-2(f), 33-1
21. Super Saver, 20-1, 24-1
22. Tempted to Tapit, 3-2(f), 63-1
23. Vale of York, 26-1, 42-1
24. Field (all others), 3-2, 3-1

(f) denotes Pool 1 field horse.

KENTUCKY OAKS FUTURES
(No., Horse, Odds)
1. All Due Respect, 30-1
2. Always a Princess, 27-1
3. Amen Hallelujah, 6-1
4. Beautician, 25-1
5. Bickersons, 63-1
6. Biofuel, 19-1
7. Blind Luck, 4-1
8. Christine Daae, 7-1
9. Cozi Rosie, 45-1
10. Crisp, 20-1
11. Decelerator, 44-1
12. Devil May Care, 21-1
13. Eve Giselle, 99-1
14. Evening Jewel, 37-1
15. Joanie s Catch, 55-1
16. Jody Slew, 29-1
17. Negligee, 19-1
18. Quiet Temper, 52-1
19. Sassy Image, 34-1
20. She Be Wild, 15-1
21. Streaker, 38-1
22. Switch, 61-1
23. Tidal Pool, 23-1
24. Field (all others), 7-1