Mutuel Field Favored in Derby Future Pool 2

(from Churchill Downs release)
Bettors across North America settled on "all others" as the lukewarm favorite when Pool 2 of Churchill Downs' 2005 Kentucky Derby Future Wager ended its four-day run on Sunday evening.

The mutuel field, the betting interest that included all 3-year-olds other than the 23 individual horses in KDFW Pool 2, picked up strong support during Sunday's final hours of wagering to close as the 6-1 favorite in the record-setting pool. Cash Is King Farm's Afleet Alex, the betting favorite after Friday and Saturday's Pool 2 sessions, closed as the 8-1 second betting choice.

Total wagering in Pool 2 was a $511,655, which was the highest total for the four-day pool in its seven-year history. The previous Pool 2 record was the $401,070 wagered in 2002.

This year's Pool 2 followed the lead of February's opening pool of the 2005 Derby Future Wager, which generated total wagering of $620,362, an all-time record for an individual KDFW Pool. Total betting in the first two pools of 2005 stands at a record $1,132,017 after Sunday's final session of Derby Future wagering saw $238,312 added to the pool.

Wagering remained strong throughout the wagering on Afleet Alex and there was heavy support for Mary and Gary West's High Limit after he scored an emphatic victory in the Louisiana Derby (gr. II) at the Fair Grounds on Saturday. The odds on the Bobby Frankel-trained son of Maria's Mon stood at 36-1 when Saturday's wagering session opened, but he was the overall third choice at 9-1 when betting in the pool concluded at 6 p.m. (EST) on Sunday evening.

Other horses that attracted solid support in Pool 2 included Sun King (10-1), Lost In The Fog (13-1), Rockport Harbor (14-1), Bandini (14-1), reigning 2-year-old filly champion Sweet Catomine (16-1), Roman Ruler (18-1), Noble Causeway (18-1) and High Fly (19-1).

The list of wagering interests in KDFW Pool 2 was reduced to 23 prior to Friday's betting when it was announced that unbeaten juvenile champion Declan's Moon had been knocked off of the Kentucky Derby trail by a knee injury. Churchill Downs officials suspended wagering on Declan's Moon (#4) in the pool at that point. There are no refunds in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

The 131st running of the Kentucky Derby is May 7 at Churchill Downs. The third and final 2005 KDFW pool is set for April 7-10.

2005 KENTUCKY DERBY FUTURE WAGER POOL 2 – FINAL
#. Horse, Wagered, Final Odds, $2 Payout
1. Afleet Alex, $44,375, 8.60, $19.20
2. Bandini, $28,027, 14.30, $30.60
3. Consolidator, $9,498, 44.20, $90.40
4. Declan's Moon, SCR, $5,564
5. Don't Get Mad*, $19,350, 21.20, $44.40
6. Fusaichi Rock Star*, $6,969, 60.60, $123.20
7. Galloping Grocer, $9,418, 44.60, $91.20
8. Giacomo, $15,814, 26.10, $54.20
9. Going Wild, $15,137, 27.30, $56.60
10. Golden Shine*, $14,410, 28.80, $59.60
11. Greater Good, $14,429, 28.70, $59.40
12. High Fly, $21,217, 19.20, $40.40
13. High Limit, $39,243, 9.90, $21.80
14. Lost In The Fog#, $30,634, 13.00, $28.00
15. Noble Causeway*, $21,581, 18.90, $39.80
16. Proud Accolade, $7,609, 55.40, $112.80
17. Rockport Harbor, $28,496, 14.00, $30.00
18. Roman Ruler, $22,331, 18.20, $38.40
19. Scipion*, $11,664, 35.80, $73.60
20. Spanish Chestnut, $5,480, 77.40, $156.80
21. Sun King, $37,679, 10.40, $22.80
22. Sweet Catomine (f), $24,512, 16.50, $35.00
23. Wilko, $19,485, 21.00, $44.00
24. All Other 3YO's, $58,733, 6.30, $14.60
TOTAL: $511,655
*new in Pool 2
(f) filly
#not nominated to Visa Triple Crown