Future bet opens; Belterra out

CHICAGO - With 90 minutes left in the first day of wagering, of the Breeders' Cup futures bet had attracted $14,695 in wagers, with heavy favorites in two of the three races being offered.

The first of three Cup futures pools opened for betting Thursday at 1 p.m. Eastern. This first round of wagering closes Sunday at 7 p.m. Eastern.

As bets were taken nationwide, word came that one of the fillies in the Distaff future pool, Belterra, betting number 7, was out after trainer Carl Nafzger said she would not race the rest of the year.

The Classic drew the most betting interest Thursday, with $7,040 bet into that pool as of 5:30 p.m. Eastern. Street Cry, who has won the Dubai World Cup and Stephen Foster this year, was a strong favorite at 6-5. Massachusetts Handicap winner Macho Uno was 5-1.

Azeri was an even stronger favorite in the Distaff, at 2-5. No other Distaff horse was in single digits.

In the Sprint, the wagering was more spread out, with Officer and Swept Overboard at 5-1 and Crafty C. T. at 6-1.

In the Distaff, the field was the second choice at 12-1. The field in the Classic was 15-1.

- additional reporting by Marty McGee