‘ALL OTHERS’ 9-2 FAVORITE, IMPROBABLE, GAME WINNER 6-1 SECOND CHOICE IN KENTUCKY DERBY FUTURE WAGER POOL 3

By Darren Rogers —-

Bellafina Favored in Lone Oaks Future Over ‘All Other 3-Year-Old Fillies’

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Sunday, March 10, 2019) – Eight weeks in advance of the $3 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I), the pari-mutuel field of “All Other 3-Year-Olds” closed as the 9-2 favorite in Pool 3 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW).

Five-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert’s unbeaten duo of Improbable and champion Game Winner finished as co-second choices at odds of 6-1 with Improbable just $575 ahead at the conclusion of betting, $33,220 in total win bets to $32,645. Both colts are expected to make their 3-year-old debuts in Saturday’s Rebel (GII) at Oaklawn Park.

In the previous two KDFW pools, Game Winner was the 5-1 second betting choice behind “All Other 3-Year-Olds,” which was the 6-5 Pool 1 choice and 5-2 favorite in Pool 2.

“All Other 3-Year-Olds” has closed as the March future pool favorite in 14 of the last 17 years. The three exceptions were Mohaymen (7-2 in 2016), Uncle Mo (3-1 in 2011) and Pyro (4-1 in 2008). None won the Kentucky Derby.

Other horses that attracted interest from bettors in the KDFW Pool 3 were Fountain of Youth (GII) pacesetter and fourth-place finisher Hidden Scroll (11-1); Lecomte (GIII) and Risen Star (GII) winner War of Will (12-1); Fountain of Youth runner-up Bourbon War (12-1); Fountain of Youth winner Code of Honor (14-1); Baffert allowance winner Roadster (16-1); and Gotham (GIII) third Instagrand (17-1).

Horses in order of favoritism in the three-day March 8-10 KDFW Pool 3 (Odds and $2 Win Will Pays):

#24 “All Other 3-Year-Olds” (9-2, $11.80); #11 Improbable (6-1, $14); #7 Game Winner (6-1, $14.20); #10 Hidden Scroll (11-1, $25.40); #21 War of Will (12-1, $27); #2 Bourbon War (12-1, $27.80); #3 Code of Honor (14-1, $31.60); #16 Roadster (16-1, $35.80); #12 Instagrand (17-1, $36.40); #6 Galilean (22-1, $47.40); #15 Mucho Gusto (27-1, $56.40); #4 Country House (29-1, $61); #9 Harvey Wallbanger (33-1, $69.40); #23 Win Win Win (34-1, $71.40); #18 Spinoff (36-1, $74.40); #20 Vekoma (37-1, $76.40); #1 Anothertwistafate (38-1, $78.80); #17 Signalman (38-1, $79.60); #8 Gunmetal Gray (43-1, $89); #14 Mind Control (55-1, $113.60); #5 Dream Maker (56-1, $114.40); #19 Tax (59-1, $120.60); #13 Intrepid Heart (63-1, $129.80); and #22 Well Defined (216-1, $435.40).

The Kentucky Derby Future Wager, offered for a 21st consecutive year, enables bettors to wager on possible Kentucky Derby contenders in advance of America’s greatest race at odds that could be more attractive than those available on the day of the race. The $3 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds will be run for the 145th consecutive year on Saturday, May 4.

In the lone Kentucky Oaks Future Wager, which was conducted concurrently with the KDFW, Santa Ynez (GII) and Las Virgenes (GII) winner Bellafina closed as the 9-2 favorite over the pari-mutuel field of “All Other 3-Year-Old Fillies,” who was 5-1. Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Jaywalk was the 7-1 third choice and was closely followed by American Pharoah’s half-sister and Starlet (GI) winner Chasing Yesterday at 8-1.

The final odds for the Oaks Future Wager:

#1 Bellafina (9-2, $11.80); #24 “All Other 3-Year-Old Fillies” (5-1, $12); #10 Jaywalk (7-1, $17.20); #4 Chasing Yesterday (8-1, $19.40); #21 Serengeti Empress (11-1, $24.80); #17 Point of Honor (11-1, $25.60); #6 Enaya Alrabb (12-1, $27.60); #20 Restless Rider (13-1, $29.80); #5 Dunbar Road (18-1, $38.80); #8 Feedback (20-1, $42.60); #15 Motion Emotion (24-1, $51.40); #2 Brill (25-1, $53); #14 Mother Mother (31-1, $65.40); #16 Orra Moor (43-1, $88.80); #19 Queen of Beas (49-1, $100); #3 Champagne Anyone (51-1, $105.60); #23 Violencia (56-1, $114.60); #11 Jeltrin (62-1, $127); #12 Liora (65-1, $133.60); #9 Graceful Princess (83-1, $168.20); #7 Eres Tu (83-1, $168.60); #18 Power Gal (Jpn) (97-1, $196.20); #13 Marathon Queen (113-1, $229.40); and #22 Tasting the Stars (137-1, $276.40).

All told, $552,662 was bet in future wagers over the three-day period, a 3% jump compared to last year’s $535,481. To date, Churchill Downs has handled $1,377,952 in future wagers since November. Last year’s total future wager handle was $1,350,343 through the comparative dates.

Total handle for the March 8-10 KDFW pool – the third of four wagering pools in advance of the 1 ¼-mile Kentucky Derby – was $385,464 ($282,199 in the Win pool and $103,265 in Exactas) versus last year’s $394,763 ($277,469 in the Win pool and $117,294 in Exactas).

Betting on the Oaks Future Wager totaled $88,652 ($65,252 in the Win pool and $23,400 in Exactas) compared to last year’s $70,993 ($47,699 in the Win pool and $23,294 in Exactas).

The Oaks/Derby Future Double, which requires fans to correctly select the winners of both the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks on May 3 and the next day’s Kentucky Derby, handled $78,546 compared to last year’s $69,725.

The opening Kentucky Derby Future Wager pool of 2019 was conducted Nov. 22-25, while Pool 2 ran from Feb. 8-10. The year’s fourth and final pool is set for April 5-7.

Visit www.KentuckyDerby.com/FutureWager for more information.