High Fly Sets Pace at Derby Future's Midpoint

(from Churchill Downs release)
Live Oak Plantation's High Fly, whose recent victory in the Florida Derby (gr. I) was his fifth in six career races, emerged as the betting favorite on Friday as Pool 3 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager ("KDFW") reached the midpoint.

The son of Atticus, one of four Nick Zito trainees among the 23 individual horses in KDFW Pool 3, was the 8-1 favorite when wagering drew to a close at 11 p.m. (EDT). The colt had been the 8-1 favorite in Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia's morning line for the four-day pool and stood at odds of 10-1 following Thursday's opening day of betting on the pool.

Other horses that had attracted solid support at the midway point of the pool included Robert and Beverly Lewis' Consolidator at 10-1, and Lewis Laikin's Greater Good and the Zito-trained Sun King and Noble Causeway at 11-1.

Mary and Gary West's Louisiana Derby (gr. II) winner High Limit is at 12-1, and Mr. and Mrs. Martin Wygod's filly Sweet Catomine and Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor's Bandini were both at 13-1. The mutuel field, which includes all 3-year-olds other than the 23 individual horses in the pool, was 14-1 risk.

Several of Pool 3's betting interests will be in action in stakes competition Saturday. That group includes Sweet Catomine, Don't Get Mad, Giacomo, and Wilko in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I); Bellamy Road, Going Wild, Galloping Grocer, Survivalist, and Pavo in the Wood Memorial (gr. I); and Greeley's Galaxy, who is not yet a Visa Triple Crown nominee, in the Illinois Derby (gr. II).

Total betting after two days of the pool stood at $87,568; Friday's betting stood at $54,506. Wagering is scheduled to resume at noon on Saturday. The pool is set to close at 6 p.m. on Sunday. Winning payouts will be determined by the odds at Sunday's close of betting.

The 131st running of the Kentucky Derby is May 7 at Churchill Downs.

KENTUCKY DERBY FUTURE WAGER POOL 3, Day 2
No. Horse/Odds/Total Bet
1. Afleet Alex/14/$4,847
2. Bandini/13/$5,150
3. Bellamy Road*/38/$1,857
4. Blues and Royals*/12/$5,518
5. Closing Argument*/71/$1,018
6. Consolidator/10/$6,603
7. Don't Get Mad/22/$3,073
8. Flower Alley*/36/$1,949
9. Galloping Grocer/59/$1,216
10. Giacomo/23/$2,951
11. Going Wild/29/$2,400
12. Greater Good/11/$5,875
13. Greeley's Galaxy (#)*/99/$455
14. High Fly/9/$6,696
15. High Limit/12/$5,491
16. Noble Causeway/11/$5,950
17. Pavo*/99/$723
18. Rockport Harbor/16/$4,138
19. Sun King/11/$5,699
20. Survivalist*/48/$1,496
21. Sweet Catomine(f)/13/$5,196
22. Wild Desert*/57/$1,251
23. Wilko/21/$3,256
24. All Other 3YO's/14/$4,876
Total: $87,684
* -- New wagering interest in Pool 3
(f) - Filly
(#) - Not Nominated To Visa Triple Crown