Field Stands Alone as New Derby Pool Opens

Racing fans made "all others" the favorite on the opening day of the second pool of Churchill Downs' 2006 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, but had trouble deciding on which of the individual horses deserved backing.

The mutuel field, which includes all 3-year-old Thoroughbreds other than the 23 individual horses in the second of three 2006 KDFW pools, stood as the 2-1 favorite at the end of Thursday's opening day Derby Future betting. After that, the dollars were spread out among several contenders for the $2 million Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), which will be run for the 132nd time on May 6. Nine of those 23 individual betting interests closed at odds of 20-1 or lower on the day.

Bluegrass Cat, the Todd Pletcher-trained winner of the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, ended up as the day's favored individual horse at 11-1. Southwest Stakes winner Lawyer Ron was next at 12-1, just ahead of Hollywood Futurity (gr. I) and San Rafael (gr. II) winner Brother Derek, the favorite for Saturday's Santa Catalina (gr. II) at Santa Anita. Champagne (gr. I) winner First Samurai – the morning line favorite for Saturday's Fountain of Youth (GII) at Gulfstream Park – was next at 15-1.

He was closely by a trio of 16-1 shots that included unbeaten Holy Bull (gr. III) winner Barbaro, Southwest runner-up Steppenwolfer and impressive allowance winner Strong Contender.

An ankle injury has knocked Darley Stable's Barbican out of consideration for the race, it was announced Friday, and wagering on the colt has been suspended..

Fans wagered $25,000 on the opening day of the pool with betting is set to resume at noon on Friday. The pool will conclude on Sunday at 6 p.m.

KENTUCKY DERBY FUTURE WAGER POOL 2 - DAY 1
Program # Horse, Odds, $ Wagered
1. Achilles of Troy, 18/1, 1,063
2. Barbaro, 16/1, 1,229
3. Barbican, SUSPENDED
4. Bluegrass Cat, 11/1, 1,702
5. Bob and John, 25/1, 791
6. Brother Derek, 13/1, 1,456
7. #Cause to Believe, 52/1, 393
8. *Corinthian, 37/1, 542
9. First Samurai, 15/1, 1,245
10. Flashy Bull, 61/1, 337
11. *Great Point, 28/1, 705
12. Itsallboutthechase, 91/1, 228
13. Keyed Entry, 24/1, 809
14. *Latent Heat, 65/1, 315
15. Lawyer Ron, 12/1, 1,587
16. *My Golden Song, 99/1, 181
17. *Noonmark, 99/1, 124
18. Point Determined, 26/1, 776
19. Private Vow, 21/1, 938
20. *Really Indian, 20/1, 980
21. *Steppenwolfer, 16/1, 1,226
22. *Strong Contender, 16/1, 1,202
23. *Sweetnorthernsaint, 28/1, 723
24. All Other 3YO's, 2/1, 6,036
Total: $25,000
(*) New Wagering Interest in Pool 2
(#) Not Nominated to the Triple Crown