The Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 4 opens Thursday at noon and will run through Mar. 29 at 6 p.m. EST, just before the running of the Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park and the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course. This concludes the year’s series of advanced wagering pools offered by Churchill Downs for the May 3 Kentucky Derby.
Installed as the morning-line favorite in Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 4 at odds of 5-1 is San Felipe (G2) winner California Chrome. The Art Sherman trainee was not included as an individual betting interest in Pool 1, but closed at odds of 30-1 in Pool 2 and 32-1 in Pool 3.
Second choice on the morning-line at odds of 6-1 is Kiaran McLaughlin’s Holy Bull (G2) winner Cairo Prince, who will make his final pre-Derby start in Saturday’s Florida Derby. Cairo Prince has been included as an individual betting interest in all four future wager pools with his odds dropping each time. In Pool 1 Cairo Prince closed at 26-1, Pool 2 he was 13-1, and in Pool 3 he was down to 9-1.
In the reverse of Cairo Prince’s falling odds, the “All Others” option tends to increase with each pool as more is learned about the abilities of the individual interests. With so many viable contenders emerging along the Kentucky Derby trail this year, the All Others play has closed as the favorite in each of the three previous pools. The All Others option has been installed as third choice in Pool 4 at odds of 8-1.
A handful of newcomers or resurfacing interests emerging in Pool 4 are, with odds, Hoppertunity 12-1, Chitu 10-1, Midnight Hawk 20-1, We Miss Artie 30-1, Ring Weekend 50-1, In Trouble 30-1, Bobby’s Kitten 30-1, Ride On Curlin 30-1, and Social Inclusion 20-1.
The Future Wagers allow bettors the opportunity at higher odds than may be available on Derby Day. However, there are no refunds if your horse doesn’t start in the Kentucky Derby or is injured or otherwise removed from consideration during pool wagering. Churchill Downs will immediately suspend wagering on a horse if it learns that something has happened to a horse to prevent it from entering the race.
The Kentucky Derby pari-mutuel wagering pool offers bettors 23 individual betting interests and one “All Others.” The future wager pool offers a minimum $2 win wager only, no place or show wagering. Also offered is a minimum $2 straight exacta wager or a minimum $1 boxed exacta or part-wheel wager. Wagering interests for the Kentucky Derby Future Wager is selected by a panel of horse racing experts, including Gary West, Brad Free, Ed DeRosa, and John Asher. Churchill Downs oddsmaker, Mike Battaglia, set the morning-line odds for each of the betting interests.
A complete list of the 24 betting interests, plus real-time odds and past performances provided by Brisnet, for the Kentucky Derby Future Wager can be found on the official Kentucky Derby website. To place your future wager, visit Churchill Downs’ simulcasting venue, the Parlay Room. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. You can also wager through various online wagering accounts like Twinspires.com, Xpressbet, DRF Bets, and TVG.
Photo: J. Oswald
