Storm Flag Flying Closes at Lowest Odds in KOFW

(Churchill Downs release)
Reigning juvenile filly champion Storm Flag Flying has yet to race in 2003, but that did not stop racing fans across the United States from making the unbeaten filly a solid favorite in Churchill Downs' inaugural Kentucky Oaks Future Wager, which ended its four-day run on April 6.

Ogden Mills Phipps' daughter of Storm Cat was the 7-2 favorite in a field of 23 wagering interests when the pool closed at racetracks and satellite wagering outlets in 34 states. The Shug McGaughey-trained filly, who is scheduled make her first start as a 3-year-old in the Comely (gr. III) at Aqueduct on April 18, was favored from the pool's opening moments. The closing odds on Storm Flag Flying were her lowest odds at any point in the pool.

Wagering during the four days of the first Kentucky Oaks Future Wager pool totaled $117,368. Sunday's betting totaled $54,660, making it the wager's busiest day. The Oaks is on May 2.

Storm Flag Flying attracted $20,128 of the pool's final wagering total, but there was also significant support for a pair of fillies that turned in big performances on Saturday in the Ashland Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland.

J. Paul Reddam's Elloluv, the Craig Dollase-trained winner of the Ashland, opened Sunday's wagering at 13-1 but ended up as the pool's second choice at 6-1. Tracy Farmer's Holiday Lady, the Nick Zito-trained third-place finisher in the Ashland, closed at 7-1.

Heiligbrodt Racing's Lady Tak, the Ashland runner-up, and the mutuel field, which included all 3-year-old fillies other than the horses in the Oaks future pool, each closed at 10-1. Marylou Whitney's Bird Town and Godolphin's Danuta were next in line at 15-1. Godolphin announced on Friday that it was no longer pointing Danuta toward the Kentucky Oaks.

The Kentucky Derby Oaks Wager is a $2 minimum wager and is a win bet only. There are no refunds in the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager.

The inaugural KOFW pool was reduced from its original 24 betting interests to 23 when betting on Godolphin's Mezzo Soprano (#13) was suspended before wagering on the pool opened at noon on April 3.

# Horse, Final Odds
1. ALLSPICE, 60.90-1
2. ATLANTIC OCEAN, 25.40-1
3. BIRD TOWN, 15.80-1
4. DANUTA, 15.40-1
5. ELLOLUV, 6.20-1
6. FINAL ROUND, 26.50-1
7. GO FOR GLAMOUR, 67.90-1
8. HARBOR BLUES, 99.10-1
9. HOLIDAY LADY, 7.30-1
10. ISLAND FASHION, 48.40-1
11. IVANAVINALOT, 40.20-1
12. LADY TAK, 10.90-1
13. MEZZO SOPRANO, SCR
14. MIDNIGHT CRY, 53.60-1
15. MY BOSTON GAL, 21.70-1
16. MY TRUSTY CAT, 27.40-1
17. PERFECT STORY, 40.70-1
18. RUBY'S RECEPTION, 42.00-1
19. SANTA CATARINA, 19.50-1
20. STORM FLAG FLYING, 3.80-1
21. UNBRIDLED FEMME, 64.90-1
22. WESTERLY BREEZE, 43.10-1
23. YELL, 19.90-1
24. ALL OTHERS, 10.40-1
FINAL TOTAL: $117,368