Empire Maker is Pool 3 pick
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Empire Maker was the solid 5-2 favorite when the third and final pool of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager closed Sunday, while Storm Flag Flying was the 7-2 favorite in the inaugural Kentucky Oaks Future Wager.
Empire Maker will return $7 for a $2 Pool 3 win wager if he wins the Derby on May 3. Only one Derby Future payoff has been lower, the Pool 3 return for Fusaichi Pegasus ($6.60), when he won in 2000. Empire Maker is scheduled for his final Derby prep Saturday in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.
Following Empire Maker in Pool 3, as the 7-1 second choice, is the mutuel field, or all 3-year-olds except the 23 separately listed wagering interests. Then comes Badge of Silver (9-1), Peace Rules (12-1), Buddy Gil (13-1), Atswhatimtalknbout (13-1), and Ten Most Wanted (17-1).
After Storm Flag Flying, the next choices in the Oaks Future wager are Elloluv (6-1), Holiday Lady (7-1), Lady Tak (10-1), the mutuel field (10-1), and Bird Town (15-1).
Handle on both pools was lower than anticipated: The Oaks drew a mere $117,368, while only $222,261 was bet on the Derby's Pool 3, second-lowest in the five-year history of the wager. But Churchill Downs president Steve Sexton called the combined total "strong," adding, "It is clear the Oaks Future Wager had an impact on Pool 3, so this should provide us with some guidance for the future of both wagers."
Combined wagering on the three Derby pools this year was $1,130,169, third-best in the wager's history. The field was the favorite in the two previous pools. Pool 1 was offered Feb. 13-16 and Pool 2 ran March 13-16.
KENTUCKY DERBY
| No. | Horse | Pool 1 Final | Pool 2 Final | Pool 3 Final |
| 1 | Alysweep | 2-1 | 7-2 | 71-1 |
| 2 | Aristocat | 2-1 | 64-1 | 48-1 |
| 3 | Atswhatimtalknbout | 28-1 | 8-1 | 13-1 |
| 4 | Badge of Silver | 11-1 | 10-1 | 9-1 |
| 5 | Brancusi | 2-1 | 7-1 | 38-1 |
| 6 | Buddy Gil | 2-1 | 7-2 | 12-1 |
| 7 | Domestic Dispute | 19-1 | 28-1 | 41-1 |
| 8 | During | 2-1 | 7-2 | 93-1 |
| 9 | Empire Maker | 12-1 | 7-2 | 5-2 |
| 10 | Funny Cide | 93-1 | 59-1 | 52-1 |
| 11 | Inamorato | 2-1 | 37-1 | 68-1 |
| 12 | Indy Dancer | 18-1 | 17-1 | 18-1 |
| 13 | Kafwain | 12-1 | 15-1 | 18-1 |
| 14 | Lion Tamer | 20-1 | 19-1 | 43-1 |
| 15 | Man Among Men | 29-1 | 25-1 | 28-1 |
| 16 | Ministers Wild Cat | 24-1 | 27-1 | 28-1 |
| 17 | New York Hero | 2-1 | 7-2 | 40-1 |
| 18 | Ocean Terrace | 2-1 | 40-1 | 47-1 |
| 19 | Offlee Wild | 34-1 | 37-1 | 24-1 |
| 20 | Peace Rules | 66-1 | 18-1 | 12-1 |
| 21 | Region of Merit | 2-1 | 48-1 | 46-1 |
| 22 | Ten Most Wanted | 2-1 | 7-2 | 17-1 |
| 23 | Trust N Luck | 19-1 | 29-1 | Scr |
| 24 | All other 3-year-olds | 2-1 | 7-2 | 7-1 |
KENTUCKY OAKS
| No. | Horse | Final Odds |
| 1 | Allspice | 60-1 |
| 2 | Atlantic Ocean | 25-1 |
| 3 | Bird Town | 15-1 |
| 4 | Danuta | 15-1 |
| 5 | Elloluv | 6-1 |
| 6 | Final Round | 26-1 |
| 7 | Go For Glamour | 67-1 |
| 8 | Harbor Blues | 99-1 |
| 9 | Holiday Lady | 7-1 |
| 10 | Island Fashion | 48-1 |
| 11 | Ivanavinalot | 40-1 |
| 12 | Lady Tak | 10-1 |
| 13 | Mezzo Soprano | Scr |
| 14 | Midnight Cry | 53-1 |
| 15 | My Boston Gal | 21-1 |
| 16 | My Trusty Cat | 27-1 |
| 17 | Perfect Story | 40-1 |
| 18 | Ruby's Deception | 42-1 |
| 19 | Santa Catarina | 19-1 |
| 20 | Storm Flag Flying | 7-2 |
| 21 | Unbridled Femme | 64-1 |
| 22 | Westerly Breeze | 43-1 |
| 23 | Yell | 19-1 |
| 24 | All other 3-year-olds | 10-1 |