Kentucky Derby Future Wager favoritism to Uncle Mo

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Uncle Mo, the unbeaten divisional champion scheduled to make his 3-year-old debut Saturday in the Timely Writer Stakes at Gulfstream Park, was a lukewarm favorite at the close of business Friday, the first of three days of betting into Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

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With $40,828 in the win pool, Uncle Mo (No. 23) stood as the 9-2 favorite over Runflatout (No. 14, 5-1), who was a surprise favorite for much of Friday. Next came To Honor and Serve (No. 22, 6-1), Dialed In (No. 6, 9-1), and the mutuel field, the No. 24 or “all others” option, at 11-1. An additional $10,269 was bet into the exacta pool.

Odds are locked in on the parimutuel futures only after the pool closes Sunday at 6 p.m. Eastern. Considerable change in the odds can be expected by then, as several key Derby preps are to be run Saturday: the Timely Writer, the Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs, and the San Felipe at Santa Anita.

Runflatout, based at Santa Anita with trainer John Sadler, has raced just once, earning a 98 Beyer Speed Figure when winning a Jan. 29 sprint over his home track by 2 1/2 lengths. The Kentucky-bred ridgling was not a separately listed wagering interest in Pool 1, which ran Feb. 18-20, and was pegged at 50-1 on the Churchill Downs morning line as one of four newly named horses for Pool 2. He is entered in the San Felipe.

The field closed as the 2-1 favorite in Pool 1, when the total handle was $592,492. Pool 3 is set for April 1-3.

Also Friday, the only Kentucky Oaks future pool being offered this season opened to run concurrently with Derby Pool 2. At the end of business, and following win handle of just $6,739, Zazu (No. 23) was the 9-2 favorite, followed by Kathmanblu (No. 11, 5-1), the field (No. 24, 6-1), Dancinginherdreams (No. 4, 11-1), and R Heat Lightning (No. 16, 12-1).

Exactas are available for the first time in the Oaks pool, which closes 30 minutes after Derby Pool 2 on Sunday. The exacta pool was $3,463.

Live odds and exacta will-pays are available on selected monitors at tracks and wagering outlets where the futures are offered, as well as on kentuckyderby.com and kentuckyoaks.com.