Six Pletcher Stars, Five Baffert Hopes Top Pool 2 of Kentucky Derby Future Wager

Feb 27, 2013 John Asher

Five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher lost a major contender for the 2013 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) when the impressive Violence suffered a career-ending injury last weekend, but Pletcher’s barn remains so well-stocked with Derby candidates that six of his horses are listed among the 24 betting interests for the second pool  of Churchill Downs’ 2013 Kentucky Derby Future Wager (“KDFW”).

Pletcher, who won the 2010 “Run for the Roses” with Super Saver, is joined atop the Pool 2 betting roster by three-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert, who will be represented by five 3-year-old Thoroughbreds in the Derby Futures pool that opens its three-day run at noon (all times Eastern) on Friday, March 1.

But despite the massive star power of the Pletcher and Baffert teams, Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia has installed the Mutuel Field (#24), which includes all 3-year-olds other than the pool’s 23 individual horses, as the 3-1 morning line favorite for KDFW Pool 2. 

Co-favored among individual horses at 10-1 are Baffert’s Super Ninety Nine (#18), an 11 ½-length winner of the Southwest (GIII) at Oaklawn Park, and Pletcher’s unbeaten Verrazano (#22), who has won his two starts by a combined 24 lengths. Other individuals who are expected to draw strong support included Baffert’s unbeaten Robert B. Lewis (GII) winner Flashback (#6, 12-1); Holy Bull (GIII) winner Itsmyluckyday (#8, 12-1); Orb (#11, 12-1), who defeated favored Violence in last week’s Fountain of Youth (GII) at Gulfstream Park; and the Pletcher-trained Withers (GIII) winner Revolutionary (#15, 12-1).  Reigning 2-year-old champion Shanghai Bobby (#17), San Vicente (GII) winner Shakin It Up (#16) and Normandy Invasion (#10) are rated by Battaglia as 15-1 risks.

The Kentucky Derby Future Wager offers racing fans an opportunity to bet on potential contenders for the famed “Run for the Roses” well in advance of the race at odds that could be significantly more attractive than those available in betting on Kentucky Derby Day.

The $2 million-guaranteed Kentucky Derby will be run for the 139^th consecutive year at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 4.

Betting in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager will open Friday at noon (all times Eastern) at racetracks and off-track betting centers throughout North America and online at TwinSpires.com, the advance deposit wagering outlet for Churchill Downs Incorporated, and other internet wagering platforms.  Wagering will conclude at 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 3.

Along with Verrazano, the six Pletcher trainees in Pool 2 are Shanghai Bobby, Revolutionary, Palace Malace (#14, 30-1), Overanalyze (#12, 20-1) and Delhomme (#2, 50-1). Super Ninety Nine and Flashback are joined on the Baffert Derby Futures team by Shakin It Up, Code West (#1, 20-1) and Den’s Legacy (#3, 50-1).

KDFW Pool 2 includes six 3-year-olds that were not individual betting interests in Pool 1: Ive Struck A Nerve (#9, 30-1), Orb, Palace Malice, Shakin It Up, Titletown Five (#19, 30-1) and Treasury Bill (#20, 30-1).

Each Kentucky Derby Future pool offers $2 minimum win betting and exacta wagering, which is available in the form of $2 minimum straight exacta bets or $1-minimum exacta boxes and part-wheels. No scratches or betting refunds are permitted in the Derby Future Wager, but betting on an individual horse will be suspended immediately if Churchill Downs determines that an injury, illness or other circumstance revealed during the pool would prevent that horse from competing in the Kentucky Derby.

The 2013 Kentucky Derby Future got off to a strong start with total wagering of $621,493 in its Feb. 8-10 opening pool – the second-largest wagering total in an individual pool since the bet was introduced in 1999.  Win betting in Pool 1 totaled $481,632 and there was $139,861 in exacta betting.

Information on the Kentucky Derby is available online at the official event Web site at www.KentuckyDerby.com and KDFW real-time odds will be presented on that site throughout each three-day betting pool. 

The individual wagering interests for the three KDFW 2013 pools are chosen by a committee that includes Brad Free and Mike Watchmaker of Daily Racing Form;  Brisnet.com Marketing Director Ed DeRosa; and Churchill Downs’ John Asher.

KENTUCKY DERBY FUTURE WAGER 2013 Pool 2                                                                                      March 1-3
#	Wagering Interest	Morning Line	Day 1	Day 2	FINAL	WILL PAY
1	Code West	20-1
2	Delhomme	50-1
3	Den’s Legacy	50-1
4	Dynamic Sky	50-1
5	Falling Sky	50-1
6	Flashback	12-1
7	Goldencents	20-1
8	Itsmyluckyday	12-1
9	Ive Struck A Nerve (n)	30-1
10	Normandy Invasion	15-1
11	Orb (n)	12-1
12	Overanalyze	20-1
13	Oxbow	30-1
14	Palace Malice (n)	30-1
15	Revolutionary	12-1
16	Shakin It Up (n)	15-1
17	Shanghai Bobby	15-1
18	Super Ninety Nine	10-1
19	Titletown Five (n)	30-1
20	Treasury Bill (n)	30-1
21	Uncaptured	30-1
22	Verrazano	10-1
23	Vyjack (g)	30-1
24	All Others	3-1
(g) – gelding        (n) – new wagering interest in Pool 2
Morning Line odds by Mike Battaglia

 

Churchill Downs, the world’s most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, continuously since 1875. Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ: CHDN) also operates Trackside at Churchill Downs, which offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs will conduct the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 4, 2013 and its 2013 Spring Meet is scheduled for April 27-June 30. The track has hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships a record eight times. Information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at www.ChurchillDowns.com.

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