Eight new horses break into the lineup
Eight additions and deletions have been made among the 23 individual betting interests in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which opens Thursday at racetracks and wagering outlets throughout the U.S.
The new horses are Blue Burner, Easy Grades, Essence of Dubai, Mayakovsky, Perfect Drift, Showmeitall, Sunday Break, and Yougottawanna. None is expected to rank among the Pool 2 favorites.
The Pool 1 horses who are not in the Pool 2 lineup are Cappuchino, Fonz's, Grey Beard, King's Consul, Maybry's Boy, Pelirojjo, Political Attack, and Stephentown.
In Pool 1, conducted Feb. 14-17, the mutuel field - or all others besides the 23 specifically listed - closed as the 5-2 favorite, but historically, the field tends to draw lighter wagering as the Derby draws nearer.
Mike Watchmaker, Daily Racing Form's national handicapper, and Churchill Downs linemaker Mike Battaglia have released Pool 2 morning lines that include a well-clustered group of lukewarm favorites, including Repent, Came Home, Johannesburg, Siphonic, and the field.
Moreover, with the Florida Derby and Gotham Stakes to be run this weekend, horses who win or run exceptionally well in those races probably can be expected to draw strong action.
The other main Derby prep this weekend, the San Felipe at Santa Anita, will not be run in time for consideration in Pool 2 wagering. The race will be run after Pool 2 closes at 5:30 p.m. Eastern on Sunday. Pool 2 opens daily at noon and closes at midnight Thursday through Saturday.
Pool 1 attracted a handle of $577,889, an all-time record for a single pool since the Future Wager was inaugurated in 1999. The wager is available in 34 states, including all major racing jurisdictions. Pool 3 is set for April 4-7.
The lineups are chosen by the three-man committee of John Asher of Churchill Downs and Brad Free and Watchmaker of Daily Racing Form.
2002 Kentucky Derby Future Wager Official Field
| # | Name | Morning Line Odds |
| 1 | Blue Burner* | 30-1 |
| 2 | Booklet | 20-1 |
| 3 | Came Home | 6-1 |
| 4 | Danthebluegrassman | 30-1 |
| 5 | Easyfromthegitgo | 20-1 |
| 6 | Easy Grades* | 50-1 |
| 7 | Essence Of Dubai* | 30-1 |
| 8 | Harlan's Holiday | 15-1 |
| 9 | High Star | 50-1 |
| 10 | Johannesburg | 6-1 |
| 11 | Mayakovsky* | 50-1 |
| 12 | Nokoma | 50-1 |
| 13 | Perfect Drift* | 50-1 |
| 14 | Repent | 4-1 |
| 15 | Request For Parole | 20-1 |
| 16 | Saarland | 12-1 |
| 17 | Saratoga Blues | 30-1 |
| 18 | Showmeitall* | 50-1 |
| 19 | Siphonic | 6-1 |
| 20 | Sunday Break* | 30-1 |
| 21 | Tempera (f) | 30-1 |
| 22 | USS Tinosa | 50-1 |
| 23 | Yougottawanna* | 50-1 |
| 24 | Field - all others | 5-1 |
Morning line odds by Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia.
(f) - filly
* - new additions to Pool 2
Deletions from Pool 1 - Cappuchino, Fonz's, Grey Beard, King's Consul,
Maybry's Boy, Pelirrojo, Political Attack and Stephentown.