Field is favored at 6-1 in Derby futures Pool 2

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The second of three pools in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager closed Sunday with the mutuel field favored slightly at 6-1 over a trio of individually listed horses, all at 8-1.

The field, the 24th or "all others" alternative to the 23 separately listed interests, was favored over Nobiz Like Shobiz, Street Sense, and Circular Quay. Nobiz Like Shobiz is the second choice in Pool 2, since his $2 payoff would be $18. Street Sense will return $18.20 if he wins the 133rd Derby on May 5, Circular Quay $19.60.

The next-lowest will-pays in Pool 2 are Any Given Saturday ($24.40), Ravel ($25.20), Great Hunter ($25.80), and Scat Daddy ($35.20). The longest price on the board, at 91-1, is Imawildandcrazyguy.

A Pool 2 field horse has gone on to win the Derby twice since Churchill Downs began offering the pari-mutuel bet in 1999 - Charismatic in 1999 and War Emblem in 2002.

The four-day handle of $379,613 was fifth-highest for a Pool 2. The record for Pool 2, which typically draws the smallest handle of the three annual pools, is $511,655, set two years ago.

Meanwhile, Pool 2 of the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager, which ran simultaneously with the Derby futures Thursday through Sunday, closed with Rags to Riches a 4-1 favorite over second-choice the field (7-1). They were followed by Dreaming of Anna (9-1), Octave (11-1), Boca Grande (13-1), Autobahn Girl (15-1), Mistical Plan (18-1), and Folk (19-1).

Handle for Oaks Pool 2 was $55,840, continuing a trend of it being less than 15 percent of the handle on the corresponding Derby pool.

Pool 1 in both the Derby and Oaks futures was held Feb. 8-11; the field closed as the favorite for both wagers.

Pool 3 is set for April 12-15.