Champagne Anyone offers value in Kentucky Oaks Future Wager

Bettors who had the foresight to back Champagne Anyone when the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager was held March 8-10 seem to have acquired the greatest wagering leverage toward the filly classic. The Ian Wilkes-trained filly was dismissed at 51-1 and figures to be among the top three or four favorites Friday in the 145th Oaks.

Bellafina, the 2-1 morning-line favorite, was at the lowest odds (9-2) in the futures, followed closely by the mutuel field, the 24th or “all others” option, at 5-1. Six of the 16 fillies in the oversubscribed Oaks are field horses: Out for a Spin, Chocolate Kisses, Lady Apple, Flor de la Mar, Positive Spirit, and Street Band.

Dunbar Road, if she makes the race as the first alternate, would qualify as a futures overlay, too, at 18-1.

Among the worst value in the futures betting – not counting the separately listed fillies that didn’t make the race, of course – is Jaywalk, who was 7-1 in the futures and is 8-1 on the morning line.

Other futures odds: Serengeti Empress, 11-1; Point of Honor (second alternate), 11-1; Restless Rider, 13-1; Motion Emotion, 24-1; Jeltrin, 62-1; and Liora, 65-1.

Oaks futures were first offered by Churchill in 2003. This year, the bet attracted $88,651 in combined handle (win and exacta), as well as another $78,546 in the Oaks-Derby double futures.

Last year, Monomoy Girl returned $14.40 for a $2 futures win bet and $7.20 on Oaks Day.