Kentucky Derby Future Pool 2: Mutuel field, Classic Empire top choices
The mutuel field, the 24th or “all others” option, closed Sunday as the 5-2 favorite over divisional champion Classic Empire (5-1) in Pool 2 of the 2017 Kentucky Derby Future Wager. The pool opened Friday at noon Eastern and ran through 6 p.m. Sunday.
Total handle for Pool 2 was $330,042, down 25 percent from the corresponding pool in 2016. Win handle was $227,880 and exacta handle was $102,162.
After the field and Classic Empire, the next lowest odds were on Mastery (9-1), McCraken (9-1), American Anthem (15-1), Mo Town (15-1), Gormley (19-1), and Practical Joke (20-1). The lowest $2 exacta will-pay is the field over Classic Empire (24-3), worth $45.40.
The field was the 6-5 favorite in Pool 1, which ran Nov. 24-27. There were 10 new names in Pool 2 among the 23 separately listed wagering interests. The field has always been the favorite in the pool held at this time of year (originally Pool 1, now Pool 2) since Churchill Downs began offering parimutuel futures in 1999. Churchill expanded from three pools to four in advance of the 2014 Kentucky Derby.
Combined handle on Pool 2 last year was $441,209. The record handle for this time of year is $631,304, which also is the all-time highest for any futures pool. That mark was set in 2012.
There were no designated Derby preps run while Pool 2 was open this year.
Pool 3 is set for Feb. 24-26 and Pool 4 for March 31-April 2. As usual, a Kentucky Oaks futures pool will coincide with Pool 3.
Total handle for Pool 1 in November was $221,801. The pool coincided with the Derby Sire futures, which handled an additional $44,150. The top individual choices in Pool 1 were Classic Empire at 6-1 and Mastery at 10-1.
The 143rd Derby is set for May 6.
Derby Futures Pool 2 closing odds
(No., Horse, Trainer, P2 odds, P1 odds)
1. American Anthem, B. Baffert, 15-1, 6-5(f)
2. Batallion Runner, T. Pletcher, 22-1, 6-5(f)
3. Classic Empire, M. Casse, 5-1, 6-1
4. El Areeb, C. Lynch, 32-1, 6-5(f)
5. Fact Finding, T. Pletcher, 39-1, 74-1
6. Faja, T. Pletcher, 56-1, 6-5(f)
7. Gormley, J. Shirreffs, 19-1, 37-1
8. Guest Suite, N. Howard, 31-1, 6-5(f)
9. Gunnevera, A. Sano, 24-1, 22-1
10. Irish War Cry, G. Motion, 26-1, 26-1
11. Lookin At Lee, S. Asmussen, 37-1, 37-1
12. Mastery, B. Baffert, 9-1, 10-1
13. McCraken, I. Wilkes, 9-1, 12-1
14. Mo Town, A. Dutrow, 15-1, 12-1
15. Mont Saint Legame, K. Maki, 134-1, 6-5(f)
16. No Dozing, A. Delacour, 38-1, 40-1
17. Petrov, R. Moquett, 109-1, 6-5(f)
18. Practical Joke, C. Brown, 20-1, 26-1
19. Sonic Mule, T. Pletcher, 80-1, 6-5(f)
20. State of Honor, 175-1, 6-5(f)
21. Uncontested, W. Catalano, 25-1, 76-1
22. Untrapped, S. Asmussen, 105-1, 6-5(f)
23. Wild Shot, R. Arnold, 92-1, 83-1
24. Mutuel field, n/a, 5-2, 6-5
(f)-mutuel field entry in Pool 1.
Win handle, $227,880
Exacta handle, $102,162
Total handle, $330,042