James Tafel’s reigning 2-year-old champion Street Sense and Elizabeth Valando’s Wood Memorial (gr. I) winner Nobiz Like Shobiz loom as the strong morning-line favorites heading into the third and final pool of Churchill Downs’ 2007 Kentucky Derby Future Wager (“KDFW”), which opens its four-day run April12.
Churchill Downs handicapper Mike Battaglia installed Street Sense, the likely favorite in the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland April 14, as the 5-1 morning line choice for the April 12-15 Derby Future pool. Nobiz Like Shobiz was a close second choice at 6-1 and was followed in the morning line by James Scatuorchio and Michael Tabor’s Florida Derby (gr. I) winner Scat Daddy (8-1); Michael and Doreen Tabor’s Louisiana Derby (gr. II) winner Circular Quay (8-1); J. Paul Reddam’s Great Hunter (10-1), winner of the Robert B. Lewis (gr. II) at Santa Anita; and Fox Hill Farm’s Hard Spun (12-1), winner of the Lane’s End Stakes (gr. II) at Turfway Park.
The mutuel field, which includes all 3-year-olds other than the 23 individual horses in the pool and the favorite in the first two pools of 2007, is listed as a 20-1 risk in Pool 3.
A total of $900,301 was wagered during the first two pools of the 2007 Derby Future wager. Betting in February’s opening pool totaled $520,688 and Pool 2 in mid-March ended with a betting total of $379,613. Combined wagering in last year’s three KDFW pools totaled $1,471,606. A record $1,665,990 was wagered during the trio of Derby Future pools in 2005.
The Kentucky Derby Future Wager allows racing fans to wager on contenders for the 133rd Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands at odds that could be significantly better than those they would receive on the day of the race. The wager is a $2 minimum bet and a win wager only. There are no refunds in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager and winning payouts on Kentucky Derby Day will be based on the odds that are in place at the conclusion of each of the three KDFW pools.
Jerry and Ann Moss’s Tiago (15-1), a half-brother to 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo and upset winner of the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I); WinStar Farm and Gulf Coast Farm’s Cowtown Cat, winner of the Illinois Derby (gr. II) and Gotham (gr. III); and Centennial Farm’s Chelokee (15-1), third in the Florida Derby head the roster of seven new wagering interests in the pool. Other newcomers include Belgravia (50-1), Deadly Dealer (50-1), Dominican (50-1) and Reporting For Duty (50-1). Belgravia was a betting interest in KDFW Pool 1, but was not included in Pool 2.
Betting on the year’s final KDFW pools begin at noon (all times EDT) April 12 at racetracks and off-track betting outlets across the United States and Canada. Wagering on the pool is scheduled to conclude April 15 at 6 p.m.
