With the Kentucky Derby 11 weeks away, the pari-mutuel field of “All Other 3-Year-Olds” closed as the 3-1 favorite in Pool 3 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW). Sham Stakes (G3) winner Life Is Good was the 7-1 second betting choice.
Life Is Good, who closed as the 5-1 individual favorite in Pool 1 and 7-1 individual choice in Pool 2, was a narrow but fast winner of the one-mile Sham at Santa Anita on Jan. 2. He is expected to make his next start in the March 6 San Felipe (G2) for six-time Kentucky Derby winner Bob Baffert.
[RELATED – HRN poll: Which ‘all other’ horse did Derby bettors have in mind?]
The Brad Cox-trained 2-year-old champion Essential Quality, perfect in three starts after winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in November, closed at odds of 8-1 for the third time in as many future wager pools. He is scheduled to make his 3-year-old debut in Sunday's rescheduled Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn Park.
The Shug McGaughey-trained 5 3/4-length Holy Bull (G3) winner Greatest Honour was close behind at 9-1. Other horses that garnered attention from bettors include 8 1/2-length maiden winner Prevalence (14-1), 10 1/4-length Smarty Jones winner Caddo River (15-1), Risen Star (G2) winner Mandaloun (16-1) and San Vicente (G2) winner Concert Tour (17-1).
Horses in order of the public’s betting choice (with trainer, Pool 3 odds and $2 Win will pays):
24. “All Other 3-Year-Olds” (3-1, $8.60);
13. Life Is Good (Bob Baffert, 7-1, $17.40);
5. Essential Quality (Brad Cox, 8-1, $18.80)
8. Greatest Honour (Shug McGaughey III, 9-1, $21.80)
18. Prevalence (Brendan Walsh, 14-1, $31.80);
1. Caddo River (Brad Cox, 15-1, $33)
14. Mandaloun (Brad Cox, 16-1, $34.60)
3. Concert Tour (Bob Baffert, 17-1, $36.60)
12. Keepmeinmind (Robertino Diodoro, 25-1, $52.20)
19. Risk Taking (Chad Brown, 25-1, $52.40)
15. Medina Spirit (Bob Baffert, 25-1, $53)
11. Jackie’s Warrior (Steve Asmussen, 26-1, $55.20);
4. Dream Shake (Peter Eurton, 28-1, $58.60)
6. Fire At Will (Mike Maker, 30-1, $62.60)
2. Candy Man Rocket (Bill Mott, 35-1, $73.60)
10. Hot Rod Charlie (Doug O’Neill, 35-1, $73.60)
9. Highly Motivated (Chad Brown, 37-1, $77)
23. The Great One (Doug O’Neill, 38-1, $79.80)
21. Senor Buscador (Todd Fincher, 39-1, $81.60)
16. Midnight Bourbon (Steve Asmussen, 41-1, $84.20)
20. Roman Centurian (Simon Callaghan, 41-1, $85)
7. Freedom Fighter (Bob Baffert, 52-1, $106.80)
22. Swiftsure (Steve Asmussen, 74-1, $150.20)
17. Nova Rags (Bill Mott, 91-1, $184.40).
Total handle for the Feb. 12-14 KDFW pool – the third of five scheduled wagering pools in advance of the 147th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 1 – was $388,987 ($278,397 in the Win pool and $110,590 in Exactas).
Dates for the remaining 2021 Kentucky Derby future pools are March 5-7 (Pool 4) and March 26-28 (Pool 5). The lone Kentucky Oaks Future Wager will coincide with Pool 4 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager.
