A dazzling victory in the Florida Derby lifted John Oxley's Monarchos into the favorite's role heading into the final day of Pool 2 of Churchill Downs' 2001 Kentucky Derby Future Wager.Fans lined up at racetracks and off-track betting outlets in 30 states to wager on the John Ward, Jr.-trained son of Maria's Mon after he unleashed a spectacular rally to win the $1 million Florida Derby by 4 1/2-lengths. Monarchos opened the day at odds of 15-1, but emerged as the 6-1 favorite when the third day of wagering in the four-day pool closed late Saturday evening. The mutuel field, which includes all 3-year-olds other than the 23 individual horses in Pool 2, was listed as the 7-1 second choice and Point Given, the favorite through the first two days wagering in the pool, was next at 8-1. Dollar Bill was listed at 11-1, Hero's Tribute and Street Cry both stood at 12-1, A P Valentine was listed at 13-1, and Millennium Wind was a 14-1 risk following Saturday's wagering.Wagering on the third day of Pool 2 totaled $113,952 and raised the three-day total to $187,103. That is lower than the $278,121 that had been wagered through the first three days of February's Pool 1, but is well above the $161,294 that had been pumped into last year's Pool 2 during its first three days. The Kentucky Derby Future Wager allows racing fans to place wagers on contenders for the Kentucky Derby weeks in advance 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. Pool 3 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager is scheduled for April 5-8. Pool 2 wagering resumes at noon (EST) Sunday and closes at 4:30 p.m. (EST).Fans at racetracks and satellite outlets across North America wagered $510,815 in Pool 1 of the 2001 Kentucky Derby Future Wager during its four-day run from Feb. 15-18. The total was the largest for a single pool in the history of the Future Wager, which was offered for the first time in 1999, and marked the first time that a single pool had exceeded the $500,000 mark. Total wagering for all three pools in 2000 was a record $1,158,919 -- up from the $676,233 wagered on all three pools in 1999. KENTUCKY DERBY FUTURE WAGER POOL 2, DAY THREE# HORSE Odds (total wagered)1. A P VALENTINE 13-1 (10,858)
2. BURNING ROMA 30-1 (4,728)
3. CITY ZIP 40-1 (3,479)
4. CONGAREE 40-1 (3,566)
5. CRAFTY C.T. 24-1 (6,204)
6. DOLLAR BILL 11-1 (12,879)
7. EARLY FLYER 45-1 (3,131)
8. GLOBAL GAIT 50-1 (2,878)
9. GOLD TRADER 30-1 (4,697)
10. HERO'S TRIBUTE 12-1 (12,073)
11. HOLIDAY THUNDER 40-1 (3,739)
12. INVISIBLE INK 25-1 (5,706)
13. MILLENNIUM WIND 14-1 (10,126)
14. MONARCHOS 6-1 (22,382)
15. OUTOFTHEBOX 23-1 (6,538)
16. PALMEIRO 45-1 (3,239)
17. POINT GIVEN 8-1 (16,904)
18. SCORPION 35-1 (4,124)
19. SONGANDAPRAYER 18-1 (8,057)
20. STARTAC 20-1 (7,361)
21. STREET CRY 12-1 (11,525)
22. STRIKE IT SMART 99-1 (1,054)
23. YOU KNOW WHO 45-1 (3,234)
24. MUTUEL FIELD 7-1 (18,621)
TOTAL $187,103
