Field favored over Life Is Good, Essential Quality in Kentucky Derby Future Wager

The mutuel field, the 24th or “all others” option, closed as a lukewarm favorite after three days of betting into Pool 3 of the 2021 Kentucky Derby Future Wager. The pool opened Friday at noon Eastern and closed Sunday evening at 6.

The mutuel field closed at 3-1, followed by Life Is Good at 7-1 and Essential Quality at 8-1. They were followed by Greatest Honour (9-1), Prevalence (14-1), Caddo River (15-1), Mandaloun (16-1), and Concert Tour (17-1), with all others ranging from 25-1 to 91-1. The lowest $2 exacta will-pay is Essential Quality over the field (5-24), worth $64.

:: KENTUCKY DERBY 2021: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more

Combined handle on Pool 3 was $388,986, with $278,396 bet to win and $110,590 in exactas. The total was up 9 percent from the corresponding 2020 pool.

The field closed as the 6-5 favorite in Pool 1, held Nov. 26-29 in tandem with the Derby Sires Future Wager. The field was the 9-5 favorite in Pool 2, which drew handle of $322,033 for the wagering period of Jan. 22-24.

Pool 4 is set for March 5-7 and Pool 5 for March 26-28, with Pool 4 coinciding with a separate Kentucky Oaks pool.

Churchill Downs had offered four parimutuel futures pools in recent years, although there were seven pools toward the 2020 Derby because of the race being postponed from May to September due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Last year in Pool 3, the eventual Derby winner Authentic was the top individual choice at 6-1, a couple of ticks lower than his 8-1 odds on Derby Day.

In the case of field horses filling both exacta slots, the next-best finish by a separately listed horse will count toward the winning combination.

The 147th Kentucky Derby will be run May 1.

2021 KENTUCKY DERBY POOL 3

(No., Horse, Trainer, P1, P2, P3 odds)

1. Caddo River, B. Cox, 27-1, 13-1, 15-1

2. Candy Man Rocket, B. Mott, 6-5(f), 9-5(f), 35-1

3. Concert Tour, B. Baffert, 6-5(f), 16-1, 17-1

4. Dream Shake, P.Eurton, 6-5(f), 9-5(f), 28-1

5. Essential Quality, B. Cox, 8-1, 8-1, 8-1

6. Fire At Will, M. Maker, 30-1, 45-1, 30-1

7. Freedom Fighter, B. Baffert, 6-5(f), 9-5(f), 52-1

8. Greatest Honour, S. McGaughey, 6-5(f), 40-1, 9-1

9. Highly Motivated, C. Brown, 18-1, 24-1, 37-1

10. Hot Rod Charlie, D. O’Neill, 34-1, 40-1, 35-1

11. Jackie’s Warrior, S. Asmussen, 18-1, 23-1, 26-1

12. Keepmeinmind, R. Diodoro, 19-1, 19-1, 25-1

13. Life Is Good, B. Baffert, 5-1, 7-1, 7-1

14. Mandaloun, B. Cox, 6-5(f), 42-1, 16-1

15. Medina Spirit, B. Baffert, 6-5(f), 24-1, 25-1

16. Midnight Bourbon, S. Asmussen, 59-1, 26-1, 41-1

17. Nova Rags, B. Mott, 6-5(f), 9-5(f), 91-1

18. Prevalence, B. Walsh, 6-5(f), 9-5(f), 14-1

19. Risk Taking, C. Brown, 6-5(f), 9-5(f), 25-1

20. Roman Centurian, S. Callaghan, 6-5(f), 9-5(f), 41-1

21. Senor Buscador, T. Fincher, 6-5(f), 34-1, 39-1

22. Swiftsure, S. Asmussen, 6-5(f), 9-5(f), 74-1

23. The Great One, D. O’Neill, 6-5(f), 9-5(f), 38-1

24. Mutuel field, n/a, 6-5, 9-5, 3-1

(f) – Mutuel field

Win handle, $278,396

Exacta handle, $110,590

Total handle, $388,986