Sweet Catomine Slight Choice in Oaks Future

(from Churchill Downs release)
Reigning juvenile filly champion Sweet Catomine emerged as a narrow favorite over "all others" as four days of betting on the opening pool of Churchill Downs' 2005 Kentucky Oaks Future Wager drew to a close on Sunday evening at racetracks and simulcast centers across North America.

Both Sweet Catomine and the mutuel field, a betting interest that included all 3-year-old fillies other than 22 individual horses listed in the pool, stood at odds of 9-2 when wagering on KOFW Pool 1 concluded. But slightly more money had been wagered on Mr. and Mrs. Martin Wygod's champion daughter of Storm Cat ($10,663) than on the field ($10,442).

A total of $69,928 was wagered on the KOFW during Pool 1, an increase of $3,503 from the $66,425 wagering in the same pool in 2004. The Pool 1 total was the largest of four pools since the Oaks Future bet adopted its current three-pool format last year.

While the Julio Canani-trained Sweet Catomine and the mutuel field vied for the favorite's role in Pool 1, Sis City emerged as a solid third choice among the pool's 23 wagering interests. The Richard Dutrow, Jr.-trained daughter of Slew City Slew, a 16-length winner of the Davona Dale (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park in her most recent start, was 9-1.

A pair of 11-1 shots in Maddalena, unbeaten winner of Gulfstream's Old Hat (gr. III), and Splendid Blended, winner of the Hollywood Starlet (gr. I), were next. Sharp Lisa, a gritty winner of the Las Virgenes (gr. I) at Santa Anita on Saturday, was at 13-1. Runway Model, third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) and winner of the Golden Rod (gr. II) at Churchill Downs, was a 15-1 risk.

The biggest swing in odds on the day came on Right Daddy, a winner of her only career start, who opened the day at 88-1 but stood at 18-1 at the close of Pool 1 betting.

Two more pools are scheduled in the 2005 Kentucky Oaks Future Wager. Pool 2 is set for March 10-13 and the third and final pool will be held April 7-10.

KENTUCKY OAKS FUTURE WAGER POOL 1 -- FINAL
No. Wagering Interest/Odds (wagered)/$2 Will Pay
1. Balletto (WAGERING SUSPENDED)
2. Cream Donut Keith/26-1 ($2,104)/$55.80
3. Culinary/34-1 (1,649)/$71.20
4. Hot Attraction/49-1 (1,174)/$100.00
5. Hot Storm/59-1 (975)/$120.40
6. In The Gold/36-1 (1,560)/$75.20
7. Inspiring/27-1 (2,029)/$57.80
8. Kota/44-1 (1,290)/$91.00
9. Maddalena/11-1 (4,570)/$25.60
10. More Moonlight/46-1 (1,229)/$95.40
11. Play With Fire/73-1 (784)/$149.80
12. Pussycat Doll/26-1 (2,112)/$55.60
13. Quiet Honor/69-1 (839)/$140.00
14. Right Daddy/18-1 (2,982)/$39.20
15. Runway Model/15-1 (3,518)/$33.20
16. Salute/27-1 (2,053)/$57.20
17. Sense of Style/30-1 (1,877)/$62.40
18. Sharp Lisa/13-1 (3,958)/$29.60
19. Sis City/ 9-1 (5,391)/$21.60
20. Splendid Blended/11-1 (4,531)/$25.80
21. Summerly/14-1 (3,674)/$31.80
22. Sweet Catomine/9-2 (10,663)/$11.00
23. The Beter Man Can/99-1 (524)/$224.00
24. All Other 3YO Fillies/9-2 (10,442)/$11.20

To purchase a photo of Sweet Catomine, click here.