Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2: Field (3-1) slight favorite over Union Rags (4-1)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The mutuel field closed as a slight 3-1 favorite over the top individually listed option, Union Rags, when Pool 2 of the 2012 Kentucky Derby Future Wager closed Sunday at 6 p.m. Eastern.

Union Rags, an impressive winner of the Fountain of Youth in his seasonal debut Feb. 26, was the 4-1 second choice, followed by Hansen (9-1), El Padrino (12-1), Creative Cause (17-1), Alpha (18-1), Fed Biz (22-1), and I’ll Have Another (22-1). Out of Bounds, who closed at 23-1, broke down Monday morning and is off the Triple Crown trail.

Win handle was $299,574, and the exacta drew another $111,794, yielding a combined handle of $401,368, sixth-highest for a Pool 2 in the 14 years of parimutuel futures offered by Churchill Downs. Last year, combined handle on Derby Pool 2 was $376,699.

The lowest $2 exacta will-pays were the combinations of Union Rags over the field (23-24), worth $56.80, and its reverse (24-23), worth $57.60.

The field, the 24th or “all others” option, has been the Pool 2 favorite in most years since Churchill began the futures in 1999. Last year, Uncle Mo was slightly favored over the field, although ultimately a Pool 2 field horse, Animal Kingdom, won the Derby.

The record for a Pool 2 handle of $511,655 was set in 2005, when the aggregate handle of $1,665,990 also was set. After a record Pool 1 handle of $631,304, the two-pool total for 2012 stands at $1,032,672.

Sunday handle on Pool 2 was $220,300, after a total of $181,068 was bet Friday and Saturday. Sundays typically draw more than the two prior days combined as odds become closer to being locked in and prep races from that particular weekend become known.

The field closed as the 3-2 favorite in Pool 2, which ran Feb. 10-12, with Union Rags the 7-1 second choice.

Meanwhile, the field also was favored in the only futures pool being offered this year on the Kentucky Oaks. The Oaks pool, which closed 30 minutes after the Derby futures, drew $63,960 in win wagers and $28,516 in exactas for a total of $92,476. The field closed as the 4-1 choice, followed by Princess Arabella (6-1), Grace Hall (8-1), Eden’s Moon (9-1), Zo Impressive (12-1), and On Fire Baby (13-1). The lowest $2 exacta will-pay was Grace Hall over the field (10-24), worth $65.40. Last year, combined handle on the Oaks was $92,903.

The 138th Oaks and Derby will be run May 4 and 5, respectively. Derby Pool 3 is set for March 30 to April 1.

Number	Horse	Pool 2 Final odds	Pool 1 Odds
1	Alpha	18	19-1
2	Battle Hardened	60	46-1
3	Bodemeister	29	3-2*
4	Castaway	45	3-2*
5	Creative Cause	17	17-1
6	Dullaha	26	40-1
7	El Padrin	12	16-1
8	Empire Way	36	33-1
9	Fed Biz	22	21-1
10	Gemologist	23	22-1
11	Hansen	9	26-1
12	I'll Have Another	22	29-1
13	Liaison	39	56-1
14	Mark Valeski	38	3-2*
15	Midnight Transfer	73	67-1
16	News Pending	45	3-2*
17	Out of Bounds	23	23-1
18	Rousing Sermon	68	71-1
19	Sabercat	30	34-1
20	Scatman	97	3-2*
21	Secret Circle	37	3-2*
22	Take Charge Indy	38	42-1
23	Union Rags	4	7-1
24	Mutuel Field (all others)	3	3-2
* - denotes Pool 1 field horse

2012 Kentucky Oaks Future Wager Odds

Number	Horse	Final odds
1	Amie's Dini	42
2	And Why Not	19
3	Avie's Sense	44
4	Believe You Can	36
5	Captivating Lass	24
6	Charm The Maker	77
7	Disposablepleasure	23
8	Dixie Strike	25
9	Eden's Moon	9
10	Grace Hall	8
11	In Lingerie	43
12	Inny Minnie	66
13	Karlovy Vary	92
14	Killer Graces	55
15	Mamma Kimbo	26
16	Off Limits	75
17	On Fire Baby	13
18	Princess Arabella	6
19	Reneeegotzip	25
20	Summer Applause	16
21	Sweet Seventeen	52
22	Yara	26
23	Zo Impressive	12
24	Mutuel Field (all others)	4