Racing fans had a chance to bet the Kentucky Derby well in advance this past weekend at Virginia Bets OTB locations and via our four on line betting partners — TVG.com, XpressBet.com, TwinSpires.com and NYRABets.com. Here is a recap based on final odds. The next chance to bet the Derby “future” is on March 9th – 11th. The Derby itself is on Saturday May 5th. All Virginia OTBs will have a big party that day including the new Windmill OTB in Collinsville, located just outside of Martinsville. Stay tuned to virginiahorseracing.com for updates.
With the Kentucky Derby 12 weeks away, the pari-mutuel field of “All Other 3-Year-Olds” closed as the 5-2 favorite in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW) while Champion 2-Year-Old Male and Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Grade I) winner Good Magic and multiple Grade I winner Bolt d’Oro were the co-second betting choices at odds of 8-1.
The “All Others 3-Year-Olds” betting option has been the favorite in the first pool of the New Year since the Kentucky Derby Future Wager was first introduced in 1999.’
The $2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds will be run for the 144 th consecutive year on Saturday, May 5.
Other horses that attracted the most interest from bettors in the KDFW Pool 2 were the Bob Baffert -trained Los Alamitos Futurity (GI) and Sham (GIII) winner McKinzie (9-1) and the Todd Pletcher-trained Holy Bull (GII) winner Audible (9-1).
Horses in order of favoritism (Pool 2 Odds and $2 Win Will Pays): #24 “All Others” (5-2, $7); #3 Bolt d’Oro (8-1, $18); #10 Good Magic (8-1, $18); #13 McKinzie (9-1, $20.60); #1 Audible (9-1, $21.80); #4 Catholic Boy (16-1, $35.60); #11 Instilled Regard (18-1, $38.40); #19 Solomini (19-1, $40.40); #12 Mask (22-1, $47.20); #2 Avery Island (27-1, $57.40); #17 Principe Guilherme (30-1, $62.60); #16 Mourinho (31-1, $64.20); #20Sporting Chance (33-1, $69.80); #9 Free Drop Billy (36-1, $75.40); #21 Strike Power (40-1, $83.60); #23 Untamed Domain (41-1, $84.40); #6 Copper Bullet (43-1, $88.20); #14 Mendelssohn (44-1, $90); #7 Enticed (62-1, $126.60); #8 Firenze Fire (63-1, $128.80); #18 Retirement Fund (67-1, $137.80); #22 Tiz Mischief (71-1, $144.80); #5 Combatant (72-1, $146.60); and #15 Montauk (SCRATCHED
The Kentucky Derby Future Wager, offered for a 20 th consecutive year, enables bettors to wager on possible Kentucky Derby contenders in advance of America’s greatest race at odds that could be more attractive than those available on the day of the race. There are no scratches or refunds, but Churchill Downs officials can suspend wagering on a horse if an injury is suffered or another circumstance becomes public that would prevent the horse from competing in the Kentucky Derby. That was the case with Montauk, who was sidelined Friday by a throat issue.
Total handle for the Feb. 9-11 KDFW pool – the second of four wagering pools in advance of the 1 ¼-mile Kentucky Derby – was $521,650 ($363,389 in the Win pool and $158,262 in Exactas), which was a significant 58.1% increase over last year’s $330,043 ($227,881 in the Win pool and $102,162 in Exactas.
Horses can qualify to the Kentucky Derby by competing in a series of races that award points to the Top 4 finishers on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve. Four points-bearing races are scheduled this week, led by Saturday’s Risen Star at Fair Grounds (Top 4 points: 50-20-10-5) that commences the 16-race Championship Series. Also, the Japan Road to the Kentucky, which can offer a potential berth to one runner, concludes Sunday with the Hyacinth at Tokyo Racecourse.
Dates for the remaining Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks future pools are March 9-11 (KDFW Pool 3 and Kentucky Oaks Future Wager) and April 6-8 (KDFW Pool 4). Visit www.KentuckyDerby.com/FutureWager for more information.
