Big Brown slight Derby choice over Pyro

Big Brown was a slight favorite over Pyro during the second of four days in Pool 3 of the 2008 Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

As of 3:30 p.m. Eastern on Friday, Big Brown was holding at 3-1, followed by Pyro at 7-2, War Pass at 9-1, and El Gato Malo at 14-1. Handle was $46,770, although with three Derby preps slated for Saturday - the Wood Memorial, Illinois Derby, and Santa Anita Derby - surely a majority of fans had yet to make their bets. Final odds are not locked in until Sunday at 6 p.m.

Meanwhile, Proud Spell, who was entered to run Saturday in the Ashland Stakes, was the 5-2 favorite in Pool 3 of the Kentucky Oaks futures, which had attracted only $6,755 as of 3:30 p.m. Friday. After Proud Spell came Country Star (8-1), Shes All Eltish (8-1), Eight Belles (9-1), and the mutuel field (9-1). Oaks Pool 3 closes Sunday at 6:30 p.m.

Pool 1 for both the Derby and Oaks ran Feb. 7-10, and Pool 2 was held March 6-9.