Midway through the second of four days of wagering into Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, Wimbledon was the lukewarm 8-1 favorite, followed closely by the mutuel field, or "all others" option, at 8-1; Birdstone at 10-1; and Rock Hard Ten at 11-1.

As of 5 p.m. Eastern on Friday, $48,152 had been bet into the Derby futures, while just $5,989 had been handled on the Kentucky Oaks futures. In the Oaks pool, Halfbridled was the 5-2 favorite, followed by A.P. Adventure (8-1), Madcap Escapade (9-1), and the mutuel field (9-1).

ARCADIA, Calif. - In the weeks leading up to the Breeders' Cup last fall at Santa Anita, everything fell into place for trainer Richard Mandella. His horses trained brilliantly, with nary a setback, and on the day of the races, he set a record, winning four.

Since then, Mandella has had a series of frustrating setbacks that might have aggravated someone with less equilibrium. It has not been a total disaster for Mandella. Far from it. He won the San Antonio Handicap with Pleasantly Perfect, for instance. But little else has gone to plan.

WHO'S HOT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Eight new names are among the 23 separately listed betting interests in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which opens its customary four-day run Thursday at noon.

NEW ORLEANS - Bob Baffert for months had watched his Kentucky Derby crop of 2004 disappoint. Several well-regarded 2-year-olds from last year never developed. Many more, some with expensive price tags, were complete busts. Baffert became so desperate that he bought a couple of runners privately, perhaps hoping to emulate the success he had two years ago with War Emblem. But those horses did not amount to much, either.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Only minutes after Lion Heart won the Hollywood Futurity, trainer Patrick Biancone said the colt would be rested until the San Rafael Stakes, then would move on to the Santa Anita Derby before the Kentucky Derby.

The 2 1/2 months since the Hollywood Futurity have flown past. Most top 3-year-olds have already raced this year, so Lion Heart largely has been out of sight, and out of mind. But now it's time to get down to serious business.

WHO'S HOT

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The Kentucky Derby trail claimed another victim Thursday when X-rays revealed that Silver Wagon had chips in the upper joint of his left knee. Silver Wagon, who finished third in the Fountain of Youth Stakes, had been pointing for the $1 million Florida Derby on March 13.

Minister Eric always has played the understudy in the barn of trainer Richard Mandella. He was second to stablemate Siphonizer in the Del Mar Futurity. He was second to stablemate Action This Day in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. And he will be the second of those horses to make his 2004 debut, when he begins his quest for the May 1 Kentucky Derby in Saturday's Baldwin Stakes at Santa Anita.

WHO'S HOT

There were no changes to the horses on the Derby Watch's top 25, but a couple of odds adjustments were made on the future line set by Mike Watchmaker, Daily Racing Form's national handicapper. He lowered Gradepoint, the Risen Star Stakes winner, to 15-1 from last week's 20-1.

WHO'S NOT

Gradepoint's price went down because Watchmaker raised The Cliff's Edge from 15-1 to 25-1 following his loss in last week's Sam Davis Stakes.

ON THE BUBBLE