For only the third time in the 16-year history of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager's final pool, bettors were unable to decide on an individual horse, instead making the Mutuel Field the top choice.
The "All Others" option, which includes all 3-year-olds other than the 23 named individual horses, was held at 5-1 as wagering concluded the evening of March 29.
It's unusual because in most years, the top choices have become clear by the time the final pool commences.
San Felipe (gr. II) winner California Chrome narrowly edged Cairo Prince as the favored individual horse among the 24 wagering interests in KDFW Pool 4. The Art Sherman-trained California Chrome, who is scheduled to run next week in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I), and Cairo Prince, who would finish fourth to fellow KDFW wagering interest Constitution (19-1) later in the day in the Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I), each closed at 9-1.
But California Chrome ended up as the individual favorite with slightly more money wagered to win on the California-bred colt ($18,433) than on Cairo Prince ($17,793).
Churchill Downs handicapper Mike Battaglia had installed California Chrome as the 5-1 choice in his morning line odds for KDFW Pool 4, just ahead of the 6-1 odds he assigned to Cairo Prince. He listed an 8-1 price on "All Others."
Other strongly backed individual horses in Pool 4 betting included unbeaten Social Inclusion at 11-1; Robert B. Lewis (gr. II) winner Candy Boy at 13-1; Hoppertunity and Tapiture , the 1-2 finishers in the Rebel (gr. II), both at 15-1; untested Bayern at 15-1; and unbeaten Gotham (gr. III) victor Samraat at 17-1.
Vicar's in Trouble, the winner of the Louisiana Derby (gr. II) after the close of Pool 4 betting, ended up at 36-1.
The KDFW took in $336,717 during the three-day Pool 4 that opened at noon March 27. That wagering total included $228,748 in win betting and $107,969 in exacta wagering. Overall betting in the first future wager season to feature four betting pools totaled $1,289,371.
The 140th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) is to be run at Churchill Downs May 3.
| KENTUCKY DERBY FUTURE WAGER POOL 4 March 27-March 29 FINAL ODDS & WILL-PAYS |
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| # | Wagering Interest | Morning Line Odds | Closing Odds | $2 Will Pays | |
| 1 | Albano | 50-1 | 46-1 | $95.80 | |
| 2 | Bayern | 15-1 | 15-1 | $33.40 | |
| 3 | Bobby's Kitten* | 30-1 | 35-1 | $72.80 | |
| 4 | Cairo Prince | 6-1 | 9-1 | $21.40 | |
| 5 | California Chrome | 5-1 | 9-1 | $20.80 | |
| 6 | Candy Boy | 12-1 | 13-1 | $29.20 | |
| 7 | Chitu* | 10-1 | 31-1 | $64.00 | |
| 8 | Constitution | 30-1 | 19-1 | $40.60 | |
| 9 | General a Rod | 30-1 | 24-1 | $50.40 | |
| 10 | Hoppertunity* | 12-1 | 15-1 | $32.20 | |
| 11 | In Trouble* | 30-1 | 30-1 | $63.60 | |
| 12 | Intense Holiday | 20-1 | 20-1 | $42.20 | |
| 13 | Midnight Hawk* | 20-1 | 51-1 | $105.60 | |
| 14 | Ride On Curlin* | 30-1 | 49-1 | $101.00 | |
| 15 | Ring Weekend (g)* | 50-1 | 24-1 | $51.00 | |
| 16 | Samraat | 15-1 | 17-1 | $37.80 | |
| 17 | Social Inclusion* | 20-1 | 11-1 | $25.60 | |
| 18 | Strong Mandate | 20-1 | 32-1 | $67.80 | |
| 19 | Tapiture | 15-1 | 15-1 | $33.00 | |
| 20 | Uncle Sigh | 30-1 | 47-1 | $97.00 | |
| 21 | Vicar’s in Trouble | 50-1 | 36-1 | $74.40 | |
| 22 | We Miss Artie* | 30-1 | 36-1 | $74.40 | |
| 23 | Wildcat Red | 30-1 | 31-1 | $65.20 | |
| 24 | All Other 3YOs | 8-1 | 5-1 | $12.20 | |
| Total Wagering: $336,717 $2 Win Wagering: $228,748 $2 Exacta: $107,969 | |||||
| Morning Line odds by Mike Battaglia | |||||
| (g) – gelding (*) – new wagering interest from KDFW Pool 3 | |||||
