Field favored at 6-5 in Pool 1 of Kentucky Derby Future Wager

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The mutuel field once again was the clear-cut favorite when Pool 1 in the 2017 Kentucky Derby Future Wager closed Sunday evening.

The field, the 24th or “all others” option, was pounded late in the four-day session to close as the 6-5 choice, followed by Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Classic Empire at 6-1. Then came Mastery (10-1), Mo Town (12-1), and McCraken (12-1), with all others being 22-1 or higher.

The odds on Mo Town and McCraken both came down substantially after their respective victories Saturday in the Remsen and Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. Odds are not locked in until the pool closes.

This is the fourth year Pool 1 was held in late November, but regardless of when it is held, the field has always closed as the favorite in Pool 1 since Churchill Downs first offered parimutuel futures in 1999.

Total handle for Pool 1 was $221,801, with $162,870 in win wagers and $58,931 in exactas. The lowest $2 exacta will-pays combine the field and Classic Empire, with both the 2-24 and 24-2 combinations worth $41.80.

Total handle (win and exacta) in Pool 1 last November was $174,682. The four-pool aggregate for the 2016 Derby was $1,379,358, short of the record of $1,665,990 set in 2005.

Last November, the field closed at 3-5, while Nyquist, the eventual Derby winner, closed as the 9-1 second choice. Toward the 2015 Derby, American Pharoah was a 12-1 chance in Pool 1 the previous November.

As usual, three subsequent futures pools will be offered before the 143rd Derby is run May 6. Pool 2 will run Jan. 27-29, Pool 3 from Feb. 24-26, and Pool 4 from March 31 to April 2. A separate Kentucky Oaks pool will be offered concurrent with Pool 3.

• Concurrent to Pool 1, Churchill also offered the Kentucky Derby Sires Future Wager for the second year, with the field closing as the 7-2 favorite over Pioneerof the Nile (5-1). Next were Candy Ride (9-1), Uncle Mo (9-1), Ghostzapper (12-1), Bernardini (14-1), and Curlin (14-1). The lowest $2 exacta will-pay is Pioneerof the Nile over the field (15-24), worth $47.40.

Handle was $44,150, with $30,375 to win and $13,775 in exactas. Combined handle for the inaugural sires futures last November was $34,960.

Derby Futures Pool 1 final odds

(No., horse, trainer, closing odds)
1. Beach Bum, B. Baffert, 23-1
2. Classic Empire, M. Casse, 6-1
3. Fact Finding, T. Pletcher, 74-1
4. Gormley, J. Shirreffs, 37-1
5. Gunnevera, A. Sano, 22-1
6. Hemsworth, T. Albertrani, 80-1
7. Hookup, D. Cannizzo, 130-1
8. Irish War Cry, G. Motion, 26-1
9. Just Move On, P. Byrne, 182-1
10. Klimt, B. Baffert, 37-1
11. Lookin At Lee, S. Asmussen, 37-1
12. Mastery, B. Baffert, 10-1
13. McCraken, I. Wilkes, 12-1
14. Mo Town, A. Dutrow, 12-1
15. No Dozing, A. Delacour, 40-1
16. Not This Time, D. Romans, SCR
17. Practical Joke, C. Brown, 26-1
18. Running Mate, L. Jones, 55-1
19. Saint’s Fan, D. Stewart, 76-1
20. Syndergaard, T. Pletcher, 43-1
21. Takaful, K. McLaughlin, 37-1
22. Uncontested, W. Catalano, 76-1
23. Wild Shot, R. Arnold, 83-1
24. Mutuel field, n/a, 6-5

Win pool, $162,870
Exacta pool, $58,931
Total handle, $221,801

Derby Sires Futures odds box

(No., sire, closing odds)
1. Bernardini, 14-1
2. Bodemeister, 30-1
3. Candy Ride, 9-1
4. Curlin, 14-1
5. Distorted Humor, 58-1
6. Flatter, 47-1
7. Gemologist, 65-1
8. Ghostzapper, 12-1
9. Giant’s Causeway, 30-1
10. Harlan’s Holiday, 39-1
11. Into Mischief, 24-1
12. Kitten’s Joy, 47-1
13. Malibu Moon, 26-1
14. Medaglia d’Oro, 30-1
15. Pioneerof the Nile, 5-1
16. Scat Daddy, 42-1
17. Speightstown, 98-1
18. Tapit, 15-1
19. Tiznow, 55-1
20. Unbridled’s Song, 70-1
21. Uncle Mo, 9-1
22. Union Rags, 18-1
23. War Front, 45-1
24. Mutuel field, 7-2

Win pool, $30,375
Exacta pool, $13,775
Total handle, $44,150