Kentucky Derby Future Wager: Field closes as 3-1 favorite; Flashy Gray tops Kentucky Oaks futures

Barbara D. Livingston

Verrazano closed at 8-1 in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The mutuel field closed as a clear-cut choice over the top individually listed option, Verrazano, when Pool 2 of the 2013 Kentucky Derby Future Wager closed Sunday at 6 p.m. Eastern.

The field, the 24th or “all others” option, closed as the 3-1 favorite, with Verrazano next at 8-1. They were followed by Vyjack (11-1), Orb (12-1), Flashback (12-1), Itsmyluckyday (13-1), Revolutionary (15-1), Shanghai Bobby (16-1), Normandy Invasion (17-1), and Super Ninety Nine (17-1).

The biggest late mover on the oddsboard was Vyjack, who was 23-1 before his victory Saturday in the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct.

There seemed to be value in the exacta pool, with the lowest will-pay combination being the field over Super Ninety Nine (24-18), worth $123 for a $2 bet.

[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]

Combined handle was $407,038, with $287,611 in the win pool and $119,427 in the exactas. That was fourth-most for a Pool 2 in the 15-year history of the futures.

Pool 2 typically has drawn the lightest handle of the three Derby pools since Churchill Downs first began offering parimutuel futures in 1999. Last year, the handle was $411,368; the record for a Pool 2 was $511,655, set in 2005, the same year the record was set for the three-pool aggregate handle ($1,665,990).

The third and final pool is set for March 22-24.

Combined handle for Pool 1 three weeks ago was $621,493, bringing the total thus far to $1,028,531. The three-pool aggregate record of $1,665,990 was set in 2005. Last year, the Pool 3 handle was $427,347; the record Pool 3 handle of $533,973 was set in 2005.

Six new names were assimilated into the futures lineup for Pool 2. In Pool 1, held Feb. 8-10, the field closed as the 3-2 favorite over Verrazano (11-1).

[DERBY WATCH: Top 20 Kentucky Derby contenders with odds and video]

Meanwhile, in the Kentucky Oaks futures, which were held concurrent to Derby Pool 2, Flashy Gray closed as a lukewarm 6-1 favorite over the field (7-1), followed by Beholder (8-1), Unlimited Budget (9-1), Pure Fun (10-1), and Emollient (11-1). The lowest $2 exacta will-pay is the field over Unlimited Budget (24-23), worth $81.

Handle was a record $126,038, with $87,633 to win and $38,405 in exactas; the former standard of $117,368 was set in 2003. Churchill offers Oaks futures just once a year.

The 139th Oaks and Derby will be run May 3 and 4, respectively.

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2

(No., Horse, Pool 1 odds, Pool 2 odds, Pool 2 $2 win will-pay)

1. Code West, 56-1, 28-1, $59.40

2. Delhomme, 55-1, 45-1, $92.80

3. Den’s Legacy, 77-1, 68-1, $139.20

4. Dynamic Sky, 54-1, 50-1, $102

5. Falling Sky, 114-1, 79-1, $160

6. Flashback , 12-1, 12-1, $27.80

7. Goldencents, 20-1, 24-1, $51.60

8. Itsmyluckyday, 13-1, 13-1, $28.40

9. Ive Struck a Nerve, 3-2(f), 50-1, $102

10. Normandy Invasion, 15-1, 17-1, $36

11. Orb, 3-2(f), 12-1, $26.20

12. Overanalyze, 33-1, 37-1, $77.20

13. Oxbow, 26-1, 31-1, $65.80

14. Palice Malice, 3-2(f), 40-1, $82.80

15. Revolutionary, 13-1, 15-1, $32.40

16. Shakin It Up, 3-2(f), 48-1, $99

17. Shanghai Bobby, 14-1, 16-1, $34.60

18. Super Ninety Nine, 47-1, 17-1, $36.80

19. Titletown Five, 3-2(f), 61-1, $125.20

20. Treasury Bill, 3-2(f), 28-1, $58.40

21. Uncaptured, 40-1, 35-1, $72

22. Verrazano, 11-1, 9-1, $20

23. Vyjack, 49-1, 11-1, $25.60

24. Field (all others), 3-2, 3-1, $8.60

(f) – Pool 1 field entry.

Kentucky Oaks Future Wager

(No., Horse, Closing odds, $2 win will-pays)

1. Beholder, 8-1, $18.60

2. Blue Violet, 48-1, $98.20

3. Calistoga, 22-1, $47.20

4. Close Hatches, 29-1, $61

5. Dreaming of Julia, 16-1, $35.60

6. Emollient, 11-1, $24.20

7. Executiveprivelege, 23-1, $48.20

8. Fiftyshadesofhay, 20-1, $42.20

9. Flashy Gray, 6-1, $15.80

10. Live Lively, 15-1, $33.20

11. Midnight Lucky, 16-1, $34.40

12. Princess of Sylmar, 19-1, $41

13. Private Ensign, 47-1, $96.80

14. Promise Me More, 65-1, $132.40

15. Pure Fun, 10-1, $22

16. Renee’s Titan, 83-1, $168.80

17. Rose to Gold, 65-1, $133.80

18. Sister Ginger, 89-1, $181.20

19. So Many Ways, 37-1, $76.40

20. Spellbound, 33-1, $69.60

21. Spring In the Air, 50-1, $103.20

22. Touch Magic, 89-1, $181.40

23. Unlimited Budget, 9-1, $20.60

24. Field (all others), 7-1, $16.20