Mutuel field heavy favorite in opening Derby Future Wager

Remsen winner Court Vision is listed at 12-1 along with War Pass and Pyro (Deborah Kral/Horsephotos.com)

As expected, the mutuel field, or "all others," wager has

been installed as the overwhelming 5-2 favorite on the morning-line for Pool 1

of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which begins its four-day run at noon (EST)

on Thursday at racetracks and satellite wagering outlets across the United

States and Canada.  Wagering on all three pools of the Kentucky Derby

Future Wager is also available at TwinSpires.com.

The mutuel field has been favored in the first of three pools of the Kentucky

Derby Future Wager every year since the bet was first offered in 1999, and the

trend is expected to continue in 2008. Churchill

Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia doesn't have an individual betting interest

listed at less than 12-1 on his morning line. Three horses are co-second choices

at 12-1: unbeaten juvenile champion WAR PASS (Cherokee Run), Remsen S. (G2)

winner COURT VISION (Gulch) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) runner-up PYRO

(Pulpit).

Each Kentucky

Derby Future Wager pool includes 24 wagering interests that consist of 23

individual horses and a mutuel field, or "all others," interest. The Kentucky

Derby Future Wager is a minimum $2 wager and a win bet only.  It offers

Kentucky Derby fans the opportunity to bet on contenders at odds that could be

greater than those they would receive on Derby Day.

Wagering on

Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager will continue through Sunday, February 10,

at 6 p.m. (EST). Pool 2 is scheduled for March 6-9, while the wager's third and

final pool is set for April 3-6.

There are no refunds in either the Kentucky Derby Future Wager and winning

payouts in all three pools will be based on the odds that are in place on the

wagering interests at the close of wagering in each respective pool.

Real time odds on all three pools of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager will be

available at kentuckyderby.com.