Cairo Prince 8-1 individual favorite for Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2
Cairo Prince, an impressive winner of the Grade 2 Holy Bull Stakes last month at Gulfstream Park, is the top individually listed wagering interest behind the heavily favored mutuel field in Pool 2 of the 2014 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which opens Thursday at noon Eastern for a three-day run.
A Derby futures pool in early February had traditionally been the first of the season, but last fall Churchill Downs moved Pool 1 to November for the first time, adding a fourth pool. The field, the 24th or “all others” entry, closed as the 4-5 favorite in Pool 1, followed by Honor Code at 10-1 and the since-retired New Year’s Day at 15-1. Combined handle for that pool was $273,174, the fifth-lowest total for an individual pool since future wagering was first offered in 1999.
For Pool 2, Churchill linemaker Mike Battaglia is listing the field as the 7-5 morning-line choice, followed by Cairo Prince (8-1), Honor Code (10-1), and Shared Belief (10-1).
A whopping 14 field horses from Pool 1 are now separately listed for Pool 2, meaning only nine horses from Pool 1 have been held over as single betting interests: Bobby’s Kitten, Cairo Prince, Commissioner, Havana, Honor Code, Noble Moon, Rise Up, Shared Belief, and Strong Mandate.
[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]
Pool 2 will close Saturday at 6 p.m. Eastern or post time for the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita Park, whichever comes first. The Lewis is the only prep race with Derby points (10 to the winner) being held this weekend.
Pool 3 will run Feb. 27-March 1 and Pool 4 from March 27-29. All pools will run Thursday to Saturday, as opposed to the Friday-to-Sunday schedule used in prior years. A single Kentucky Oaks futures pool will be offered concurrent to Derby Pool 3.
Combined handle on Pool 1 last February for the 2013 Derby was $621,493, just shy of the record of $631,304 set with the Pool 1 in 2012. The eventual 2013 Derby winner, Orb, was a field entry in Pool 1 before being separately listed for Pools 2 and 3.
As with any pari-mutuel wager, odds are not locked in until the pool closes. There are no refunds.
Real-time odds and exacta will-pays are available on selected monitors at tracks and wagering outlets where futures are offered, as well as on kentuckyderby.com.
Minimum wagers are $2 to win and $2 for exactas, although $1 boxes or part-wheels may be used to reach that $2 exacta minimum.
This is the 16th year for the future wager, which was first offered in 1999. Exacta wagering was added in 2009. 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.
Lineups are chosen by John Asher of Churchill, Brad Free of Daily Racing Form, Ed DeRosa of Brisnet, and freelance racing writer Gary West.
Results are predicated on the 140th Derby at Churchill on May 3.
| Kentucky Derby |
|---|
| Future Wager: Pool 2 |
| No. Horse Pool 2 Pool 1 |
| M/L odds |
| 1. Bobby's Kitten 30-1 28-1 |
| 2. Cairo Prince 8-1 26-1 |
| 3. California Chrome 50-1 4-5(f) |
| 4. Candy Boy 50-1 4-5(f) |
| 5. Commissioner 20-1 33-1 |
| 6. Conquest Titan 30-1 4-5(f) |
| 7. Havana 30-1 26-1 |
| 8. Honor Code 10-1 10-1 |
| 9. Indianapolis 20-1 4-5(f) |
| 10. Intense Holiday 50-1 4-5(f) |
| 11. Kristo 30-1 4-5(f) |
| 12. Matterhorn 50-1 4-5(f) |
| 13. Midnight Hawk 20-1 4-5(f) |
| 14. Noble Moon 50-1 63-1 |
| 15. Rise Up 30-1 50-1 |
| 16. Samraat 30-1 4-5(f) |
| 17. Shared Belief 10-1 32-1 |
| 18. Strong Mandate 20-1 27-1 |
| 19. Tapiture 20-1 4-5(f) |
| 20. Tonalist 50-1 4-5(f) |
| 21. Top Billing 15-1 4-5(f) |
| 22. Uncle Sigh 50-1 4-5(f) |
| 23. Vicar's In Trouble 20-1 4-5(f) |
| 24. Field (all others) 7-5 4-5 |
| f - Pool 1 field entry. |