Tapit, Uncle Mo had value in November futures

Those zeroing in on the unbeaten Mohaymen and champion Nyquist will have a difficult time finding value as early wagering on the Kentucky Derby continues. But the savvy pedigree players participating in Churchill Downs’s inaugural Kentucky Derby Sire Future Wager last November may have locked in the best value by looking to their sires.

Mohaymen, by leading sire Tapit, and Nyquist, by freshman phenom Uncle Mo, finished at 4-1 and 7-1 when Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager closed Sunday night, making them the top two individual choices. The field, or “all others,” was favored at 5-2.

In the Derby Sire Future Wager, offered concurrent to Pool 1 last November, Tapit closed at 7-1 and Uncle Mo at 9-1, placing them as the top individual choices behind the 2-1 field. This not only means that players essentially locked down better odds on Mohaymen and Nyquist – it covers several other potential Derby starters, as Uncle Mo is represented by a leading 19 early Triple Crown nominees to Tapit’s 16. While Uncle Mo also had Mo Tom, at 28-1, as an individual wagering interest in Pool 2, the rest of his and Tapit’s nominees would have been included in the 5-2 field price.

The other value sire with a leading Kentucky Derby candidate is Eskendereya, who closed at 26-1 last November. He has eight Triple Crown nominees, including Grade 1 winner Mor Spirit, who closed Pool 2 as the 12-1 third individual choice.

Pool 3 of the Future Wager is set for March 11-13 and Pool 4 for April 1-3.