Storm Flag Flying, winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) and champion 2-year-old filly of 2002, has been installed as a narrow morning line favorite for the first Kentucky Oaks Future Wager, which will open its inaugural four-day run on Thursday.
Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia has installed the Shug McGaughey-trained daughter of Storm Cat as the 4-1 morning line favorite among the pool's 24 wagering interests. The choices include 23 3-year-old fillies and a mutuel field that includes all other 3-year-old fillies.
Storm Flag Flying is far from an overwhelming choice for the $500,000 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I). Battaglia has listed both Lady Tak, Heiligbrodt Racing's unbeaten Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II) winner, and J. Paul Reddam's Elloluv, winner of the Hollywood Oaks (gr. I), as close second choices of 5-1.
"Storm Flag Flying more than proved her quality in her win in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and is a deserving favorite, but she has yet to race this year and several other fillies have turned in outstanding races," said Battaglia. "Several key members of the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager Pool are scheduled to compete in the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland during this pool and a big performance by any of those fillies could bring them very close to Storm Flag Flying by the time the pool closes on Sunday."
The individual fillies included in the first Kentucky Oaks Future Wager pool were chosen by the three-member committee that also selects the participants in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager. The panel consists of John Asher, vice president of racing communications at Churchill Downs; Mike Watchmaker, national handicapper for the Daily Racing Form; and Brad Free, West Coast correspondent for the Daily Racing Form.
1. Allspice 50-1
2. Atlantic Ocean 12-1
3. Bird Town 20-1
4. Danuta 30-1
5. Elloluv 5-1
6. Final Round 50-1
7. Go For Glamour 50-1
8. Harbor Blues 50-1
9. Holiday Lady 50-1
10. Island Fashion 30-1
11. Ivanavinalot 10-1
12. Lady Tak 5-1
13. Mezzo Soprano 30-1
14. Midnight Cry 30-1
15. My Boston Gal 20-1
16. My Trusty Cat 30-1
17. Perfect Story 50-1
18. Ruby's Reception 50-1
19. Santa Catarina 10-1
20. Storm Flag Flying 4-1
21. Unbridled Femme 50-1
22. Westerly Breeze 30-1
23. Yell 8-1
24. All Other 3-Year-Old Fillies 20-1
