Three-time grade I stakes winner Blind Luck and rising star Amen Hallelujah are the favored individual fillies in the Churchill Downs 2010 Kentucky Oaks Future Wager, but the mutuel field, or “all others," will likely be favored when the three-day pool wraps up March 7.
The mutuel field, a betting interest that includes all 3-year-old fillies not included in the 23 individual betting interests in the Oaks Future Wager pool, was installed as the narrow 4-1 morning line choice in the 2010 pool. Blind Luck, expected to be a heavy favorite for the March 6 Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I), is close behind as the 5-1 second choice, and the favored individual filly. Amen Hallelujah, an impressive winner of the Feb. 27 Davona Dale (gr. II), is the second individual choice at 6-1.
The three-day pool that opens March 5 at noon EST provides the only opportunity for racing fans to place an early wager on 3-year-old fillies in contention for the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), American’s premier race for 3-year-old fillies. The 1 1/8-mile Oaks is scheduled for April 30, the eve of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). Wagering in the Kentucky Oaks pool will conclude March 7 at 6:30 p.m.
The Kentucky Oaks Future Wager pool runs concurrently with pool two of the 2010 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which also opens at noon March 5. The Derby pool will close March 7 at 6:00 p.m.
Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra won last year’s Oaks by a record margin of 20 1/4 lengths, but she was not the favorite in the future wager. That nod went to Justwhistledixie, who closed as the 5-2 favorite over Rachel Alexandra (3-1), and Stardom Bound (9-2).
Christine Daae, an impressive allowance winner Feb. 28 at Gulfstream Park, is listed as 8-1. Other respected members include 2009 champion 2-year-old filly She Be Wild, Las Virgenes (gr. I) runner up Evening Jewel, and Switch, third in the Las Virgenes. Each of those fillies is listed at 12-1.
Information and real time odds on the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager are available at www.kentuckyoaks.com, the official event website.