Gunnevera, McCraken co-favorites in Derby Future Wager's final pool

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Gunnevera and McCraken are 6-1 co-favorites with one more day of betting still to go in the fourth and final pool of the 2017 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which closes Sunday at 6 p.m. Eastern.

With the Florida Derby and Louisiana Derby having been run Saturday, bettors now are likely to more than double the $168,296 win pool wagered after the pool opened Friday. As of Sunday morning, another $66,272 had been bet in exactas.

The sharpest odds drop following Saturday action was for Always Dreaming, the Florida Derby winner who went from 18-1 in the immediate race aftermath to 7-1, as of Sunday morning. Next in line were Classic Empire (8-1), Tapwrit (10-1), and the mutuel field, the 24th or “all others” option, at 11-1.

Curiously, Girvin, the Louisiana Derby winner, stood at 18-1, although his odds figure to drop before they become locked in when the pool closes.

The mutuel field closed as the favorite in the first three pools, which were held Nov. 24-27, Jan. 27-29, and Feb. 24-26.

Aggregate handle for the first three pools, including the Derby Sires wager that coincided with Pool 1, stands at $969,346. The record for aggregate handle for an entire year remains $1,665,990, set in 2005.

Last year, Nyquist closed as the 3-1 favorite in Pool 4 before winning the Derby at 2-1. Total handle on that pool was $435,357.

Win and exacta wagering are available at a $2 minimum, although exactas can be split into $1 increments in boxes or part-wheels. 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.

Real-time odds and will-pays are available through various modes, including on television monitors at tracks and wagering outlets, as well as at kentuckyderby.com.

The 143rd Derby is set for May 6.