LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The mutuel field closed as a slight 3-1 favorite over the top individually listed option, Union Rags, when Pool 2 of the 2012 Kentucky Derby Future Wager closed Sunday at 6 p.m. Eastern.

Union Rags, an impressive winner of the Fountain of Youth in his seasonal debut Feb. 26, was the 4-1 second choice, followed by Hansen (9-1), El Padrino (12-1), Creative Cause (17-1), Alpha (18-1), Fed Biz (22-1), and I’ll Have Another (22-1). Out of Bounds, who closed at 23-1, broke down Monday morning and is off the Triple Crown trail.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The last time Barry Schwartz remembers running a horse in the Wood Memorial was in 1980 when Degenerate Jon finished fourth, one position behind Genuine Risk.

Two weeks later, Genuine Risk would win the Kentucky Derby while Schwartz’s Degenerate Jon finished eighth.

Schwartz hopes to make it back to the Wood – and perhaps the Derby – this year with the lightly raced The Lumber Guy, who coming off a victory in the seven-furlong Miracle Wood Stakes at Laurel on Feb. 25 is being pointed to the $1 million Wood at Aqueduct on April 7.

Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager took place three weeks ago, and it was so popular that bettors poured more money into it than they had since it debuted in 1999. The field, which includes every 3-year-old except the 23 individual betting interests, was made the 3-2 favorite. Union Rags was the second choice at 7-1.

Handicappers who didn’t go “all in” with their futures funds in Pool 1 should be even more opinionated in Pool 2, which began Friday and concludes Sunday.

Countdown to the Crown returns for a seventh season online as one of the most comprehensive handicapper’s scouting reports of the 3-year-old scene. Posted each Friday at DRF.com from Jan. 6 through the Belmont Stakes, Countdown keeps you apprised of the rising stars of the 3-year-old class from the maiden ranks through the Grade 1 stakes. You can access daily updates and interactive features at Countdowntothecrown.com as well.

I’ll Have Another, the upset winner of the Grade 2 Robert Lewis Stakes on Feb. 4, will work six furlongs after the seventh race on Saturday, trainer Doug O’Neill said.

Owned by Paul Reddam, I’ll Have Another is being pointed for the Santa Anita Derby.

“It’s a little experience in front of a good-sized crowd,” O’Neill said of the workout. “He came out of the Bob Lewis in great shape. His stride is as long as ever and he’s full of energy. He seems like he’s up to taking on the big-time horses.”

ARCADIA, Calif. – Holy Candy is still a maiden – and still very much on the Triple Crown trail from the perspective of trainer John Sadler.

In Saturday’s second race at Santa Anita, Holy Candy will be heavily favored to win a maiden race over 1 1/16 miles, which could lead to a major stakes appearance in late March or early April. Judging from the competition he has faced, Holy Candy will be difficult to oppose on Saturday.

2012 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, Pool 2: Free PPs

PPs for all Triple Crown nominated horses: A to B | C to D |

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – As there was no shortage of horsemen willing to enter against Hansen in Saturday’s Grade 3, $400,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct, there likely will be no shortage of horseplayers seeking to play against last year’s 2-year-old male champion in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds over the inner track.

But just as Hansen has some questions to answer coming off his first career defeat in the Grade 3 Holy Bull, his 12 challengers have as many – if not more – questions to answer.

Graham Motion brought a horse to Turfway Park nearly a year ago to see whether he fit in the Kentucky Derby scheme. The answers he got were affirmative, even in May, when Animal Kingdom used a victory in the Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes as a springboard to become the latest Derby winner.

Motion seems to have lesser ambitions this March with a colt named State of Play, whose seventh-place finish in the Sam F. Davis Stakes four weeks ago would hardly recommend him as a Derby prospect.

Trainer Graham Motion had two horses he was considering for Saturday's Gotham at Aqueduct, but ultimately did not enter either one.

Earlier in the week, Motion thought about running Cop a Tude, who is 2 for 2, and Went the Day Well, a New York-bred maiden.

Though Cop a Tude won twice at Laurel, Motion thought running him in a full field in the Gotham would be “throwing him to the wolves.” Instead, Motion plans to run him in the Private Terms on March 17 at Laurel Park.