Kentucky Derby Future Pool 3: Mutuel field tepid choice
The mutuel field, the 24th or “all others” option, closed Sunday as a lukewarm choice in Pool 3 of the 2017 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, while Unique Bella was a heavy favorite in the lone futures pool for the 2017 Kentucky Oaks.
When Derby Pool 3 closed Sunday at 6 p.m. Eastern after the usual three-day wagering window, the field was the 5-1 favorite after dropping steadily in price in the aftermath of the lone Derby points prep of the weekend, the Risen Star on Saturday at Fair Grounds. Girvin and Untrapped finished one-two in that race, and neither was a separately listed wagering interest for Pool 3.
McCraken was the lowest individual interest at 6-1 and was followed by Irish War Cry (7-1), Mastery (8-1), Classic Empire (11-1), and One Liner (12-1).
The lowest $2 exacta will-pay is McCraken over the field (15-24), worth $67.60. 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.
Combined handle for Pool 3 was $373,354, with $250,279 bet to win and $123,074 in exactas. The total is up nearly 14 percent from the corresponding pool in 2016, when a combined $328,109 was bet.
The field was favored at 6-5 in Pool 1, which ran Nov. 24-27, and at 5-2 for Pool 2 (Jan. 27-29). Only nine horses have been separately listed interests in each of the first three pools. Pool 4 is set for March 31 to April 2.
For the Oaks, which closed 30 minutes after the Derby pool, Unique Bella is the even-money favorite, followed by the field (9-1), Farrell (10-1), Elate (18-1), and Valadorna (18-1). The lowest $2 exacta will pay is Unique Bella over Elate (22-6), worth $21.
Oaks handle was $100,335, with $56,337 bet to win and $43,998 in exactas. That figure is down less than 4 percent from last year, when $104,002 was bet.
The largest handle since Oaks futures were first offered in 2003 was $126,039, set in 2013.
Derby futures were first offered by Churchill Downs in 1999, with an Oaks pool added in 2003. The record for aggregate handle in the Derby futures is $1,665,990, set in 2005.
Total handle for Derby Pool 2 was $330,042, down 25 percent from the corresponding pool in 2016. Handle for Pool 1was $265,951, which includes $44,150 bet into the Derby Sires futures. To date, including the Sires wager, the aggregate for the 2017 futures stands at $969,346.
The 143rd Oaks and Derby are set for May 5 and 6.
Derby Futures Pool 3 odds
(No., Horse, Trainer, P3 odds, P2 odds, P1 odds)
1. Always Dreaming, T.Pletcher, 42-1, 5-2(f), 6-5(f)
2. American Anthem, B.Baffert, 16-1, 15-1, 6-5(f)
3. Batallion Runner, T.Pletcher, 34-1, 22-1, 6-5(f)
4. Classic Empire, M.Casse, 11-1, 5-1, 6-1
5. El Areeb, C.Lynch, 20-1, 32-1, 6-5(f)
6. Epicharis, K.Hagiwara, 41-1, 5-2(f), 6-5(f)
7. Gormley, J.Shirreffs, 18-1, 19-1, 37-1
8. Guest Suite, N.Howard, 60-1, 31-1, 6-5(f)
9. Gunnevera, A.Sano, 22-1, 24-1, 22-1
10. Iliad, D.O’Neill, 24-1, 5-2(f), 6-5(f)
11. Irish War Cry, G.Motion, 7-1, 26-1, 26-1
12. Local Hero, S.Asmussen, 72-1, 5-2(f), 6-5(f)
13. Malagacy, T.Pletcher, 53-1, 5-2(f), 6-5(f)
14. Mastery, B.Baffert, 8-1, 9-1, 10-1
15. McCraken, I.Wilkes, 6-1, 9-1, 12-1
16. Mo Town, A.Dutrow, 27-1, 15-1, 12-1
17. One Liner, T.Pletcher, 12-1, 5-2(f), 6-5(f)
18. Petrov, R.Moquett, 73-1, 109-1, 6-5(f)
19. Practical Joke, C.Brown, 19-1, 20-1, 26-1
20. Royal Mo, J.Shirreffs, 36-1, 5-2(f), 6-5(f)
21. State of Honor, M.Casse, 198-1, 175-1, 6-5(f)
22. Tapwrit, T.Pletcher, 22-1, 5-2(f), 6-5(f)
23. Wild Shot, R.Arnold, 120-1, 92-1, 83-1
24. Mutuel field, n/a, 5-1, 5-2, 6-5
(f)-mutuel field entry.
Win pool, $250,279
Exacta pool, $123,074
Total handle, $373,354
Kentucky Oaks odds box
(No., Horse, Trainer, Odds)
1. Abel Tasman, S.Callaghan, 23-1
2. Champagne Room, P.Eurton, 25-1
3. Chanel’s Legacy, L.Chleborad, 66-1
4. Daddys Lil Darling, K.McPeek, 28-1
5. Delphinia, W.Ward, 64-1
6. Elate, W.Mott, 18-1
7. Farrell, W.Catalano, 10-1
8. Ghalia, T.Pletcher, 51-1
9. It Tiz Well, J.Hollendorfer, 29-1
10. Jenda’s Agenda, L.Jones, 26-1
11. Lockdown, W.Mott, 47-1
12. Miss Sky Warrior, K.Breen, 52-1
13. Mopotism, D.O’Neill, 67-1
14. My Sweet Stella, D.Lukas, 50-1
15. Nonna Bella, T.Pletcher, 25-1
16. Noted and Quoted, B.Baffert, 69-1
17. Pretty City Dancer, M.Casse, 34-1
18. Selcourt, J.Sadler, 58-1
19. Shane’s Girlfriend, D.O’Neill, 40-1
20. Tapa Tapa Tapa, T.Hamm, 68-1
21. Tequilita, M.Matz, 55-1
22. Unique Bella, J.Hollendorfer, even
23. Valadorna, M.Casse, 20-1
24. Mutuel field, n/a, 9-1
Win pool, $56,337
Exacta pool, $43,998
Total handle, $100,335