Baffert's American Pharoah, Dortmund Are Top Betting Choices For Final 2015 Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool
Mar 24, 2015
The powerful hand held by Hall of Fame Thoroughbred trainer Bob Baffert heading into this year’s 141st running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) is evident in the fact the two young stars from his stable – reigning 2014 2-year-old champion American Pharoah (#1) and unbeaten Dortmund (#7) – are the expected to be the top betting choices heading into this weekend’s fourth and final pool of Churchill Downs Racetrack’s (“CDRT”) 2015 Kentucky Derby Future Wager (“KDFW”).
Zayat Stables LLC’s homebred American Pharoah, a dazzling winner over a sloppy track in his 2015 debut in the Grade II Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park, has been installed as the 9-2 morning line favorite by Churchill Downs handicapper Mike Battaglia in the last of four three-day KDFW pools. But Kaleem Shah Inc.’s unbeaten Dortmund, who scored his fifth consecutive victory in a front-running romp in Santa Anita’s San Felipe (GII), is very close behind his stablemate at 5-1. WinStar Farm LLC and Stonestreet Stables LLC’s Carpe Diem, the Todd Pletcher-trained winner of the Tampa Bay Derby (GIII) in his 2015 debut, is next in Battaglia’s morning line odds at 6-1 and just ahead of the always-popular Mutuel Field (#24), which includes all 3-year-old Thoroughbreds other than the 23 individual betting interests. The “All Others” interest will open the pool as its 8-1 fourth choice.
Wagering in the three-day Kentucky Derby Future Wager finale opens at noon (all times Eastern) on Friday, March 27 and is set to conclude on Sunday, March 29 at 6 p.m. Betting will be available at Churchill Downs and other racetracks and off-track betting and satellite wagering facilities across North America. Wagering also is available at TwinSpires.com, the official online wagering platform of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby, and other online wagering outlets.
Interest has been strong in this season’s three previous KDFW pools. The betting total of $422,331 in Pool 3 pushed combined betting on earlier pools in November, February and March to $1,105,503. This is the second year that the Kentucky Derby Future Wager has been offered in a four-pool format that opens with three days of betting in late November.
The Kentucky Derby Future Wager enables fans to wager on America’s greatest race well in advance of the famed Run for the Roses at odds that could be much more attractive than those offered on the day of the race. Winning payouts on all KDFW pools are determined by the odds that are in place at the end of the respective betting pool. Those winning mutuel payouts for the $2 minimum win and exacta wagers placed in each Kentucky Derby Future pool will be made following the running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 2 at Churchill Downs.
No scratches or refunds are permitted during a KDFW pool. If Churchill Downs officials confirm that an individual horse will not participate in the Derby because of injury or other circumstance, wagering on that interest will be suspended immediately.
Other horses expected to draw strong support in Pool 4 include Sunland Park Derby (GIII) winner Firing Line (#12, 12-1), unbeaten Withers (GIII) winner Far From Over (#10, 15-1), Holy Bull (GII) winner Upstart (#22, 15-1) and San Felipe (GII) runner-up Prospect Park (#21, 15-1).
The upcoming fourth pool features seven horses that were not a part of Pool 3, with six of them appearing in a Derby Future pool for the first time. Holy Bull runner-up Frosted (#13, 30-1) returns after appearing in Pools 1 and 2, and is joined by newcomers Ami’s Flatter (#2, 50-1), Bold Conquest (#3, 50-1), Spiral (GIII) winner Dubai Sky (#8, 30-1), Rebel runner-up Madefromlucky (#17, 30-1), unbeaten Materiality (#18, 20-1) and UAE Derby (GII) contender Mubtaahij (IRE) (#20, 30-1).
Pletcher leads all trainers with six horses listed among the pool’s 23 individual horses. The Pletcher trainees are Carpe Diem, Daredevil (#6, 30-1), Far From Over, Itsaknockout (#13, 30-1), Madefromlucky and Materiality.
Wagering interests for the Kentucky Derby Future Wager pools are selected by a committee that includes CDRT Racing Secretary Ben Huffman, Senior Director of Communications Darren Rogers, Director of On-Air Racing Communications Jill Byrne, Pari-Mutuel Marking Manager Gary Palmisano and Vice President of Communications John Asher.
Real-time odds for each KDFW pool and other information on the wager and the Kentucky Derby are available at the official event web site at http://www.kentuckyderby.com/racing-wagering/future-wager/pool-4-final-odds.
Free past performances for the wagering interests in Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 4 and other Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown candidates will be available online at http://www.brisnet.com/.
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