Michael Tabor and Mrs. John Magnier's Johannesburg, the 2-year-old champion of 2001, emerged as the favorite after the first day of Pool 2 of Churchill Downs' Kentucky Derby Future Wager.The unbeaten winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) was the 7-2 choice of Kentucky Derby fans across North America when the first of four days of wagering in Pool 2 drew to a close Thursday evening. Johannesburg had been listed at 6-1 in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager morning line by Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia. Select Stable's Repent, winner of the Louisiana Derby (gr. II), and Amerman Racing's Siphonic, winner of the Hollywood Futurity (gr. I), are next in line at 7-1. The mutuel field, a heavy 5-2 favorite in last month's first Kentucky Derby Future Wager pool; Starlight Stable's Iroquois (gr. III) winner Harlan's Holiday; and Remsen (gr. II) winner Saarland were listed at 12-1 at the end of Thursday's wagering. John Oxley's Booklet, winner of the Fountain of Youth (gr. I), and Toffan & McCaffery's San Rafael (gr. II) winner Came Home were listed at 13-1.The Future Wager allows racing fans to place wagers on contenders for the Kentucky Derby weeks in advance of the race at odds that may be more attractive than those they would receive on Derby Day. The Kentucky Derby Future Wager is a $2 minimum wager and is a win bet only. The list of horses in each pool consists of 24 betting interests, which include 23 individual horses and a mutuel field that contains all other 3-year-old Thoroughbreds -- regardless of whether those horses have been nominated to the Kentucky Derby and the Visa Triple Crown. There are no refunds.A total of $29,641 was wagered across North American on the first day of Pool 2.The Kentucky Derby Future Wager is available this year to fans at racetracks and off-track betting outlets in 34 states. The wager is available for the first time this year in California, Massachusetts, Michigan and Washington.
Real time odds are available on the site during each of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager pools at
