Kentucky Derby Future Wager: Fierceness made 7-2 morning-line favorite in final pool

Fierceness, runaway winner of last Saturday’s Florida Derby, has been made the 7-2 morning-line favorite for the final Kentucky Derby Future Wager pool, according to a list of entrants distributed by Churchill Downs on Tuesday.

Fierceness, who won the Florida Derby by 13 1/2 lengths in his final Derby prep, was listed as the solid favorite among 39 individual entrants and the “all others” entry. Sierra Leone, who is pointing to this Saturday’s Blue Grass Stakes, is listed as the second choice at 6-1, while Catching Freedom, winner of the Louisiana Derby, is third choice at 8-1.

Fierceness closed at 9-1 in the previous future wager, two weeks prior to the Florida Derby.

On Tuesday, after the future wager field was announced, trainer Brad Cox told Daily Racing Form that Timberlake (No. 34 in the wager) had been taken out of consideratrion for the Kentucky Derby following his fourth-place finish last Saturday in the Arkansas Derby.

The final future wager pool will open at noon Thursday but close at 4 p.m. Eastern on Saturday, prior to the running of three major Derby preps – the Blue Grass at Keeneland, the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, and the Santa Anita Derby in Southern California.

The field for the Blue Grass stakes is being drawn Tuesday, while the fields for the Wood and the Santa Anita Derby are being drawn Wednesday.

The minimum wager is $2, and both win and exacta wagering is being offered.