Churchill Downs’ 2009 Kentucky Derby Future Wager begins its 11th year when the first of its three betting pools opens Feb. 12. And for the 11th time with the first pool, the mutuel field, or “all others,” is the morning line betting favorite.
Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia has installed the “all others” interest as the 5-2 favorite in Pool 1, which opens at noon (all times EST) Feb. 12 and concludes at 6 p.m. Feb. 15. Fans often opt for the “all others” bet rather than make a commitment to an individual horse so early in the Derby campaign and this year’s group of contenders seems more wide-open than most.
Among individual horses, Fox Hill Farm’s Old Fashioned, winner of last fall’s Remsen (gr. II) at Aqueduct, and Joseph Rauch and David Zell’s Capt. Candyman Can, winner of the recent Hutcheson (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park and the Iroquois (gr. III) at Churchill Downs, are co-favored individual interests in Battaglia’s morning line at 10-1. Old Fashioned is slated to run in the Southwest Stakes (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park Feb. 16, or the day after Pool 1 closes.
That duo is followed by a closely-matched group of young stars at 12-1 that includes 2008 2-year-old champion and Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner Midshipman ; Stardom Bound, the only filly among the individual betting interests and last year’s champion 2-year-old of her gender; Lecomte (gr. III) winner Friesan Fire , who more recently claimed the Feb. 7 Risen Star Stakes (gr. III); CashCall Futurity (gr. I) winner Pioneerof the Nile , who just took the Feb. 7 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II); Champagne (gr. I) winner Vineyard Haven; and This Ones for Phil, winner of the Sunshine Millions Dash. This Ones For Phil is the lone member of Pool 1 that is not yet nominated to the Kentucky Derby and the Triple Crown.
Kentucky Derby fans will be hoping for a generous return on their wager in the Feb. 12-15 pool that would rival the opening pool of 2003, which saw Derby winner Funny Cide return $188 for a $2 Derby Future bet in Pool 1. The Sackatoga Stable star paid only $27.60 for a $2 win bet on Kentucky Derby Day.
Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager is a $2 minimum wager and a “win” bet only.
KDFW Pool 2 is scheduled for March 12-15 and the third and final pool will be conducted April 2-5.
Betting interests in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager pools are selected by a panel that includes Mike Watchmaker, Daily Racing Form national handicapper; Brad Free, West Coast correspondent for the Daily Racing Form; and John Asher, vice president of racing communications at Churchill Downs.
Real-time odds on Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager are available on the official Kentucky Derby Web site at www.kentuckyderby.com.
2009 KENTUCKY DERBY FUTURE WAGER POOL 1 – Feb. 12-15
Number - Wagering Interest -Morning line odds
1 - Beethoven - 15-1
2 - Big Drama - 30-1
3 - Capt. Candyman Can (g) - 10-1
4 - Chocolate Candy - 50-1
5 - Flying Pegasus - 30-1
6 - Friesan Fire - 12-1
7 - Giant Oak - 15-1
8 - Haynesfield - 50-1
9 - Hello Broadway - 50-1
10 - I Want Revenge - 50-1
11 - Midshipman - 12-1
12 - Notonthesamepage - 30-1
13 - Old Fashioned - 10-1
14 - Papa Clem - 20-1
15 - Patena - 20-1
16 - Pioneerof the Nile - 12-1
17 - Silver City - 50-1
18 - Stardom Bound (f) - 12-1
19 - Taqarub - 30-1
20 - The Pamplemousse - 30-1
21 - This Ones For Phil (g)* - 12-1
22 - Vineyard Haven - 12-1
23 - West Side Bernie - 50-1
24 - Mutuel Field (“All Others”) - 5-2
(f) – filly (g) – gelding * – Not nominated to Triple Crown
Derby Future Wager Pool 1 runs Feb. 12-15.
CDI