Tiz the Law closes as 2-1 favorite in Pool 5 of Kentucky Derby Future Wager

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Tiz the Law, winner of the Belmont Stakes, closed as a solid favorite when Pool 5 of the 2020 Kentucky Derby Future Wager closed Sunday.

Tiz the Law closed at 2-1, followed by Honor A. P. at 6-1, and the mutuel field, the 24th or “all others” option, at 8-1. Then came Authentic (11-1), Uncle Chuck (13-1), Cafe Pharoah (14-1), Cezanne (19-1), Art Collector (20-1), and Dr Post (20-1).

Churchill Downs has never had more than four futures pools since the first were offered in 1999, but these are unprecedented times amid the coronavirus pandemic. The 146th Derby has been postponed from its original May 2 date until Sept. 5, and the Belmont became the first leg of the Triple Crown when it was run June 20. Tiz the Law dominated the Belmont, accounting for the strong support in Pool 5.

:: KENTUCKY DERBY 2020: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more

Total handle on Pool 5 was $337,606, with $219,945 bet to win and $117,661 in exactas. The lowest $2 exacta will-pay was Tiz the Law over Honor A. P. (21-10), worth $22.

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.

The field closed as the favorite in each of the first four pools. Pool 1 was Nov. 27-30, Pool 2 was Feb. 7-9, Pool 3 was March 6-8, and Pool 4 was April 3-5.

Tiz the Law and Honor A. P. are among a group of just five horses to be listed as separate interests in all five 2020 pools, with the others being Authentic, Basin, and Thousand Words.

The only Derby points race to coincide with Pool 5 was the Ohio Derby on Saturday at Thistledown. All 13 starters were part of the Pool 5 mutuel field, including the 14-1 winner, Dean Martini, who won't even run in the Kentucky Derby because he is not nominated to the Triple Crown.

Two more futures pools are still ahead, with Pool 6 set for July 17-19 and Pool 7 for Aug. 7-9. A Kentucky Oaks futures pool will coincide with Pool 6.