Eurosilver second choice behind field
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Halfbridled, the unbeaten filly, is an individual betting interest in the Pool 1 lineups for the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks future wagers, which were announced Tuesday by Churchill Downs. The wagers will be offered Thursday through Sunday.
Each pool lists 24 betting interests, including an "all others" option known as the mutuel field. The most accomplished colts and fillies in each group are listed as separate interests.
Daily Racing Form national handicapper Mike Watchmaker has listed the field as the 3-1 favorite in Pool 1 of the Derby Futures, followed by Eurosilver (10-1), Second of June (12-1), and five horses at 15-1. For the Oaks, Watchmaker has the field as the 4-1 favorite, followed by Halfbridled (5-1), Yearly Report (10-1), and A.P. Adventure (12-1).
Halfbridled was scheduled to make her seasonal debut Saturday in the Las Virgenes but has been withdrawn by trainer Richard Mandella to await the March 13 Santa Anita Oaks.
Both future wagers are win-only, $2-minimum bets with a parimutuel takeout of 16 percent. Payoffs are predicated on the 130th runnings of the Oaks and Derby, set for April 30 and May 1, respectively, at Churchill Downs. There are no refunds for horses who are withdrawn from consideration for the races.
The pools will open Thursday at noon and close Sunday at 6:30 p.m. The bet is being offered in 35 states.
This is the sixth year that Churchill has offered future wagering on the Derby and the second year on the Oaks. The Derby futures have always comprised three pools, whereas an Oaks futures was offered just once last year, coinciding with Pool 3 of the Derby futures. This year, the Oaks is being offered during the same periods as the Derby: Pool 2 is set for March 11-14, and Pool 3 is set for April 1-4.
Last year easily produced the three largest parimutuel future wager payoffs since the bet was first offered by Churchill Downs in 1999. Funny Cide was only 12-1 when he won the 2003 Derby, but he was 93-1 in Pool 1, 59-1 in Pool 2, and 52-1 in Pool 3.
Aggregate handle last year on the four pools, including the one Oaks pool, was more than $1.2 million, a total that Churchill officials are optimistic will be surpassed this year.
2004 Kentucky Derby Future Wager
Official Field - Pool One
| No. | Name | Odds |
| 1 | Action This Day | 15-1 |
| 2 | Birdstone | 15-1 |
| 3 | Borrego | 30-1 |
| 4 | Capac | 50-1 |
| 5 | Eurosilver | 10-1 |
| 6 | Fire Slam | 30-1 |
| 7 | Gradepoint | 50-1 |
| 8 | Gran Prospect | 50-1 |
| 9 | Halfbridled (f) | 20-1 |
| 10 | Lion Heart | 15-1 |
| 11 | Lucky Pulpit | 50-1 |
| 12 | Master David | 20-1 |
| 13 | Minister Eric | 30-1 |
| 14 | Mr. Jester | 30-1 |
| 15 | Read the Footnotes | 20-1 |
| 16 | Second of June | 12-1 |
| 17 | Shaniko | 50-1 |
| 18 | Silver Wagon | 15-1 |
| 19 | Sir Oscar | 30-1 |
| 20 | St Averil | 20-1 |
| 21 | Tapit | 15-1 |
| 22 | The Cliff's Edge | 20-1 |
| 23 | Tiger Hunt | 30-1 |
| 24 | All Other 3-y-o's | 3-1 |
(f) - filly
Odds by Mike Watchmaker
2004 Kentucky Oaks Future Wager
Official Field - Pool One
| No. | Name | Odds |
| 1 | A.P. Adventure | 12-1 |
| 2 | Allswellthatendswell | 50-1 |
| 3 | Ashado | 15-1 |
| 4 | Cherry Bomb | 50-1 |
| 5 | Class Above | 20-1 |
| 6 | Eye Dazzler | 30-1 |
| 7 | Friendly Michelle | 30-1 |
| 8 | Halfbridled | 5-1 |
| 9 | Hollywood Story | 20-1 |
| 10 | House of Fortune | 30-1 |
| 11 | La Reina | 15-1 |
| 12 | Last Song | 30-1 |
| 13 | Lotta Kim | 30-1 |
| 14 | Madcap Escapade | 30-1 |
| 15 | Miss Coronado | 20-1 |
| 16 | Rahy Dolly | 50-1 |
| 17 | Saltwater Runner | 50-1 |
| 18 | Salty Romance | 30-1 |
| 19 | Silent Sighs | 20-1 |
| 20 | Society Selection | 20-1 |
| 21 | Victory U. S. A. | 20-1 |
| 22 | Whoopi Cat | 50-1 |
| 23 | Yearly Report | 10-1 |
| 24 | All Other 3-y-o fillies | 4-1 |
Odds by Mike Watchmaker