Futures: Now's the time to get down

Just like at the start of a new year, when race players take their first serious looks at the Kentucky Derby future book, now is the time bettors begin to search in earnest for a winner - at a juicy price - in the future book for the World Thoroughbred Championships.

Cashing a futures ticket isn't easy. Before the roses can wilt on the blanket worn by the Kentucky Derby winner, he's a hot ticket in futures for the World Thoroughbred Championships. But only twice, Sunday Silence in 1989 and Unbridled in 1990, has the Derby winner won the Classic in the same year. And those who rush off to bet the Juvenile winner in the Kentucky Derby future book are still waiting to cash.

Now is the time bettors get serious about the futures for the World Thoroughbred Championships, but oddsmakers take them seriously year round.

John Avello, race and sports book director at Bally's and Paris, will tell anyone who will listen that there is no down time when it comes to keeping track of horses and posting futures odds on them for the Derby or the World Thoroughbred Championships. The Derby future book overlaps with early odds on the World Thoroughbred Championships and the future book for the World Thoroughbred Championships runs smack into the Derby future book. Round and round it goes.

Avello said that maintaining the future books is no easy task, especially because he's also responsible for the sports side of his books. That's especially true of the future book for the World Thoroughbred Championships, which comprises eight races.

With so many big races over the Fourth of July holiday, Avello had both eyes glued to the race book televisions. He knows that futures players who visit Las Vegas at this time of year want to jump right on the latest big winners, hoping for a duplicate performance in the fall.

As of Wednesday, Avello has futures offerings on half of the eight World Thoroughbred Championship races: the Classic, Distaff, Mile, and Sprint. Futures on the Juvenile and Turf are expected to open later this month, to be followed by the Juvenile Fillies and Filly and Mare Turf.

Here are opening and current odds on some of the top contenders in four World Championship races. Avello's future books are offered at all of the Park Place Entertainment properties in Nevada.

Classic: Point Given, opened at 25-1, currently at 5-2; Albert the Great, 15-1, 4-1; Tiznow, 8-1, 7-1; Galileo, 12-1, 7-1; Captain Steve, 12-1, 8-1; Monarchos, 40-1, 10-1; Congaree, 40-1, 12-1; Aptitude, 50-1, 12-1; Include, 60-1, 12-1; Broken Vow, 60-1, 18-1; Unshaded, 40-1, 20-1; Red Bullet, 25-1, 20-1; Macho Uno, 30-1, 25-1; Guided Tour, 40-1, 25-1; Hero's Tribute, 35-1, 30-1; Dollar Bill, 50-1, 35-1; Millennium Wind, 25-1, 40-1; Invisible Ink, 50-1, 45-1; Balto Star, 75-1, 75-1.

Distaff: Beautiful Pleasure, 8-1, 8-1; Flute, 10-1, 10-1; Spain, 12-1, 12-1; Fleet Renee, 25-1, 12-1; Caressing, 10-1, 15-1; Gourmet Girl, 30-1, 25-1; Lazy Slusan, 25-1, 25-1; Saudi Poetry, 60-1, 40-1.

Mile: King Cugat, 7-1, 7-1; Irish Prize, 10-1, 10-1; Affirmed Success, 12-1, 12-1; Hap, 15-1, 15-1; Congaree, 20-1, 20-1; Baptize, 50-1, 50-1; Aly's Alley, 60-1, 60-1; Falcon Flight, 60-1, 60-1; In Frank's Honor, 75-1, 75-1.

Sprint: Caller One, 4-1, 7-2; Kona Gold, 5-1, 5-1; Reraise, 20-1, 20-1; Bet on Sunshine, 40-1, 25-1; Disco Rico, 40-1, 30-1; Say Florida Sandy, 35-1, 35-1; City Zip, 30-1, 40-1; Exchange Rate, 40-1, 40-1; Bonapaw, 50-1, 50-1; Squirtle Squirt, 60-1, 50-1.

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