Mutuel field 3-1 favorite in third Kentucky Derby Future Wager

Mutuel field 3-1 favorite in third Kentucky Derby Future

Wager

While the latter has run off four wins since his November 2 racing debut that

include the Los Alamitos Futurity (G1) and the recent Robert B. Lewis (G3) at

Santa Anita, American Pharoah is one of the wagering interests with some

questions to answer. He has not raced since September 27, when he rolled to

victory in the FrontRunner (G1) at Santa Anita. American Pharoah missed a

planned start in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita because of

injury, and is now training toward a planned return to competition in the

$750,000 Rebel (G2) on March 14 at Oaklawn Park.

The other major player in KDFW Pool 3 that is surrounded by a bit of mystery

is Texas Red (Afleet Alex), who romped to an easy victory in the Breeders' Cup

Juvenile and was the 9-1 favored individual horse in early February's second

Derby Futures pool. He made his three-year-old debut in a strong runner-up

finish to Lord Nelson (Pulpit) in the seven-furlong San Vicente (G2) on February

1 at Santa Anita, but Texas Red suffered a foot abscess following that race.

Trainer and co-owner Keith Desormeaux still has the May 2 Kentucky Derby as the

colt's target, but Texas Red has not worked since the ailment was discovered.

Battaglia placed his Pool 3 odds at 12-1.

The Kentucky Derby Future Wager enables fans to wager on the Kentucky Derby

well in advance of the race at odds that could be much more attractive than

those offered on the day of the race. Winning payouts in all KDFW pools are

determined by the odds that are in place at the end of each respective betting

pool. Those winning mutuel payouts for the $2 minimum win and exacta wagers

placed in each Kentucky Derby Future pool will be made following the running of

the Kentucky Derby on May 2.

Pool 3 of the Derby Future Wager will run concurrent to the only Kentucky

Oaks Future Wager pool of 2015. Wagering on both pools is set to open at noon

(EST) on Friday. Betting on the Kentucky Derby pool will close at 6 p.m. on

Sunday, while the Kentucky Oaks pool will remain open for an addition 30 minutes

before closing at 6:30 p.m.

Wagering on Pool 3 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager will be offered at

Churchill Downs and racetracks throughout North America; on the web via

TwinSpires.com, the

official online wagering site of the Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs Inc.,

and other advance deposit wagering sites; and at other simulcast centers and

off-track wagering sites. No scratches or betting refunds are permitted in the

Kentucky Derby Future wager, but betting will be suspended immediately on a

wagering interest in any KDFW pool if Churchill Downs determines that injury,

illness or other circumstance revealed during a pool would prevent a horse from

competing in the race.

Wagering was brisk in the second KDFW pool that ran from February 6-8. A

total of $448,598 in win and exacta wagers was placed during the three days of

betting, which was an 18 percent increase in betting from the same pool in 2014.

The "All Others" interest was the odds-on 3-5 favorite in November 28-30 opening

KDFW pool, which attracted total wagering of $234,574.

Another horse expected to attract strong support in the upcoming pool is

Ralph M. Evans' Upstart (Flatter), the winner of Gulfstream Park's Holy Bull

(G2) who was disqualified from first to second in last week's Fountain of Youth.

Trainer Rick Violette's New York-bred has a record of 3-2-1 in six career races.

Another New York-bred star likely to garner increased support in the pool is

International Star (Fusaichi Pegasus), who won last week's Risen Star (G2) at

Fair Grounds after winning the Lecomte (G3) over the New Orleans track in his

previous outing.

Other prominent players heading into Pool 3 include Ocean Knight (Curlin),

the Kiaran McLaughlin-trained winner of Tampa Bay Downs' Sam F. Davis (G3) and a

15-1 risk in Battaglia's morning line odds; Ocho Ocho Ocho (Street Sense),

winner of the $1 million Delta Jackpot (G3) and listed at 20-1 as the James

Cassidy trainee prepares for his 2015 debut; and Far Right (Notional), winner of

the Southwest (G3) and Smarty Jones at Oaklawn Park for trainer Ron Moquett.

KDFW Pool 3 wagering interests that were not a part of Pool 2 include Bolo

(Temple City), winner of the Eddie Logan on turf at Santa Anita; recent maiden

winner Danzig Moon (Malibu Moon), Far From Over, Keen Ice (Curlin), third in the

Risen Star; and War Story (War Front), runner-up to Far Right in both the

Southwest and Smarty Jones.

Wagering interests for the Kentucky Derby Future Wager were chosen by

Churchill Downs committee that included Racing Secretary Ben Huffman, Senior

Director of Communications and Media Services Darren Rogers, Director of

Programming and Senior Racing Analyst Jill Byrne, Player Services Manager Gary

Palmisano and Vice President, Racing Communications John Asher.

After the closing of KDFW Pool 3, one Derby Futures pool will remain on the

schedule prior to Kentucky Derby 141. The fourth and final KDFW pool is set for

five weeks before the Derby and will run from March 27-29.

Real-time odds during the three-day run of KDFW Pool 3 and other information

the wager and the Kentucky Derby are available at the official event Web site at

http://www.kentuckyderby.com/racing-wagering/future-wager/pool-3-final-odds.

Free Brisnet Ultimate Past Performances for wagering interests in Pool 2 of

the Kentucky Derby Future Wager are available at

http://www.brisnet.com/brisnet_promos/KDFW2.pdf. Brisnet also has

complimentary past performances for all Triple Crown nominees at

http://www.brisnet.com/brisnet_promos/TC15noms.pdf.

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com