Upsets Keep 'Field' Favored in Derby Wager

(from Churchill Downs report)
Following a weekend of Kentucky Derby prep races in which several leading Kentucky Derby contenders suffered defeats, the field of "all other 3-year-olds" emerged as the favorite when the second of three pools in Churchill Downs' 2004 Kentucky Derby Future Wager ended its four-day run Sunday.

The mutuel field stood as the 4-1 favorite. The upset trend that began Saturday continued on Sunday in the San Felipe (gr. II) when reigning 2-year-old champion Action This Day finished a distant seventh. Mike Pegram's Preachinatthebar, a member of the mutuel field trained by Bob Baffert, held
off Pool 2 contender St Averil to win the San Felipe. The only KDFW wagering interest to win a weekend Derby prep was Dogwood Stable's Limehouse, who took Sunday's Tampa Bay Derby (gr. III).

Despite a narrow loss to Wynn Dot Comma in the Swale, Buckram Oak Farm's Eurosilver had settled in as a solid 10-1 second choice. Marylou Whitney's Birdstone, who will run on Saturday in the Lane's End (gr. II) at Turfway Park, and James McIngvale's Wimbledon, winner of the Louisiana Derby (gr. II), both closed at 13-1 with Birdstone getting the edge in total betting as the third choice. The hottest horses on the pool's final day were St Averil, who saw his odds drop from 29-1 to 15-1, and The Cliff's Edge, who closed at 16-1 after he had opened Sunday's betting at 22-1.

The mutuel field was a 9-5 favorite in February's opening 2004 Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool. Eurosilver (11-1) and Birdstone (12-1) were the second and third choices in that pool.

Wagering in KDFW Pool 2 totaled $358,966, which included betting of $234,343 during Sunday's closing hours of the pool. Combined wagering for this year's first two pools totaled $895,924.

The third and final Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool of 2004 is scheduled for April 1-4. The 130th running of the Kentucky Derby is May 1.

2004 KENTUCKY DERBY FUTURE WAGER - POOL 2 (FINAL)

(#) Wagering Interest, Odds, Will Pay
1. Action This Day, 16-1, $35.20
2. Birdstone, 13-1, $28.40
3. Borrego, 24-1, $50.40
4. Eddington, 15-1, $33.20
5. Eurosilver, 10-1, $22.00
6. Fire Slam, 76-1, $154.40
7. Gradepoint, 46-1, $95.20
8. Halfbridled, 35-1, $73.00
9. Imperialism, 24-1, 50.40
10. Limehouse, 35-1, $72.40
11. Lion Heart, 16-1, $34.20
12. Master David, 18-1, $39.80
13. Minister Eric, 52-1, $106.20
14. Mr. Jester, 50-1, $102.80
15. Read the Footnotes, 20-1, $43.40
16. Redskin Warrior, 40-1, $83.40
17. Rock Hard Ten, 18-1, $39.00
18. St Averil, 15-1, $33.20
19. Swingforthefences, 44-1, $90.20
20. Tapit, 18-1, $39.60
21. The Cliff's Edge, 16-1, $34.40
22. Value Plus, 27-1, $57.00
23. Wimbledon, 13-1, $29.80
24. All Other 3YO's, 4-1, $10.80