Plenty of new names for Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2
A substantial overhaul from Pool 1 just nine weeks earlier has resulted in 10 new names being among the 23 separately listed wagering interests for Pool 2 of the 2017 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which opens Friday at noon Eastern for a three-day run.
The new names for Pool 2 are American Anthem, Battalion Runner, El Areeb, Faja, Guest Suite, Mont Saint Legame, Petrov, Sonic Mule, State of Honor, and Untrapped.
The mutuel field, the 24th or “all others” option, was the 6-5 favorite in Pool 1, which ran Nov. 24-27. The field has always been the favorite in the pool held at this time of year (originally Pool 1, now Pool 2).
The field is listed as the 8-5 morning-line favorite for Pool 2, which runs through Sunday at 6 p.m. Eastern. The top individual choices on the early line are Classic Empire (5-1), Mastery (6-1), McCraken (10-1), American Anthem (15-1), and Gormley (15-1).
Pool 1 horses not being offered as separate interests in Pool 2 are Beach Bum, Hemsworth, Hookup, Just Move On, Klimt, Running Mate, Saint’s Fan, Syndergaard, and Takaful. Not This Time was a 10th name in Pool 1 but was scratched after a career-ending injury was revealed.
There are no designated Derby preps scheduled for this weekend.
Pool 3 is set for Feb. 24-26 and Pool 4 for March 31-April 2. As usual, a Kentucky Oaks futures pool will coincide with Pool 3. Churchill Downs first offered parimutuel futures in 1999 and expanded from three pools to four in advance of the 2014 Kentucky Derby.
Total handle on Pool 1 in November was $221,801. It coincided with the Derby Sire futures, which handled an additional $44,150. The top individual choices in Pool 1 were Classic Empire at 6-1 and Mastery at 10-1.
Combined handle on Pool 2 last year was $441,209, which was down less than 2 percent from the 2015 total. The record handle for this time of year is $631,304, which also is the all-time highest for any futures pool. That mark was set in 2012.
Win and exacta wagering are available at a $2 minimum, although exactas can be split into $1 increments in boxes or part-wheels. 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. Odds are not locked in until the pool closes.
Real-time odds and will-pays are available through various modes, including on television monitors at tracks and wagering outlets, as well as at kentuckyderby.com.
Nyquist was a separately listed entry in all four futures pools prior to winning the 2016 Derby as the 2-1 favorite.
The 143rd Derby is set for May 6.
Kentucky Derby Futures Pool 2 odds
No. Horse Trainer Pool 2 M/L Pool 1 odds
1. American Anthem B. Baffert 15-1 6-5(f)
2. Batallion Runner T. Pletcher 20-1 6-5(f)
3. Classic Empire M. Casse 5-1 6-1
4. El Areeb C. Lynch 50-1 6-5(f)
5. Fact Finding T. Pletcher 30-1 74-1
6. Faja T. Pletcher 50-1 6-5(f)
7. Gormley J. Shirreffs 15-1 37-1
8. Guest Suite N. Howard 50-1 6-5(f)
9. Gunnevera A. Sano 50-1 22-1
10. Irish War Cry G. Motion 30-1 26-1
11. Lookin At Lee S. Asmussen 30-1 37-1
12. Mastery B. Baffert 6-1 10-1
13. McCraken I. Wilkes 10-1 12-1
14. Mo Town A. Dutrow 20-1 12-1
15. Mont Saint Legame K. Maki 50-1 6-5(f)
16. No Dozing A. Delacour 50-1 40-1
17. Petrov R. Moquett 50-1 6-5(f)
18. Practical Joke C. Brown 20-1 26-1
19. Sonic Mule T. Pletcher 50-1 6-5(f)
20. State of Honor M. Casse 50-1 6-5(f)
21. Uncontested W. Catalano 20-1 76-1
22. Untrapped S. Asmussen 50-1 6-5(f)
23. Wild Shot R. Arnold 50-1 83-1
24. Mutuel field n/a 8-5 6-5
(f)-mutuel field entry in Pool 1.