Kentucky Derby Future Wager: Field favored at 5-2

The mutuel field closed Sunday as a 5-2 favorite in Pool 2 of the 2015 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, with Texas Red the heaviest-backed individual interest at 9-1.

When closing Sunday at 6 p.m. Eastern, the field, the 24th or “all others” option, was higher odds than what the Churchill Downs morning line of even-money had projected. Nonetheless, the field still has been the favorite every year since Churchill first began offering parimutuel futures in 1999 in pools conducted at this time of year.

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

Texas Red, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last fall and more recently second in the San Vincente, was followed in the Pool 2 order by American Pharoah (10-1), Dortmund (10-1), Carpe Diem (12-1), Upstart (12-1), and Ocean Knight (18-1). The other 18 separately listed horses are 25-1 or higher, but only one of them (J S Bach at 69-1) is higher than 48-1.

Combined handle on Pool 2 was $448,598, with $340,126 bet to win and $108,472 in exactas. The total was up 18 percent over the $380,249 handled in Pool 2 last year but is well below the all-time single pool record of $631,304 set during the first pool of 2012.

The lowest exacta will-pay combination is the field over Texas Red (24-21), worth $86.80 for $2. In the case of field horses filling both exacta slots, the next-best finish by a separately listed horse will count toward the winning combination.

The field closed as the 3-5 favorite in Pool 1, which was held in late November for the second straight year and attracted a handle of just $232,204. In years past, Churchill offered three pools, with the first pool typically held in early February.

Pool 3 is set for Feb. 27-March 1 and Pool 4 for March 27-29. A single Kentucky Oaks futures pool will be offered concurrent to Derby Pool 3.

CLOSING ODDS for Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2

(No. Horse Trainer P1 odds P2 odds)

1. American Pharoah B.Baffert 12-1 10-1

2. Carpe Diem T.Pletcher 15-1 12-1

3. Competitive Edge T.Pletcher 48-1 37-1

4. Daredevil T.Pletcher 48-1 40-1

5. Dortmund B.Baffert 9-1 10-1

6. El Kabeir J.Terranova 74-1 39-1

7. Far Right R.Moquett 3-5(f) 48-1

8. Firing Line S.Callaghan 3-5(f) 35-1

9. Frosted K.McLaughlin 38-1 31-1

10. Gorgeous Bird I.Wilkes 3-5(f) 32-1

11. Imperia K.McLaughlin 27-1 24-1

12. International Star M.Maker 3-5(f) 44-1

13. Itsaknockout T.Pletcher 3-5(f) 30-1

14. J S Bach T.Pletcher 3-5(f) 69-1

15. Khozan T.Pletcher 3-5(f) 25-1

16. Lord Nelson B.Baffert 72-1 41-1

17. Mr. Z W.Lukas 47-1 44-1

18. Ocean Knight K.McLaughlin 3-5(f) 18-1

19. Ocho Ocho Ocho J.Cassidy 29-1 26-1

20. Prospect Park C.Sise 3/5(f) 35-1

21. Texas Red K.Desormeaux 14-1 9-1

22. The Great War W.Ward 72-1 40-1

23. Upstart R.Violette 53-1 12-1

24. Mutuel field (all others) n/a 3-5 5-2

(f) – denotes Pool 1 field entry

Win handle, $340,126

Exacta handle, $108,472

Total handle, $448,598