May 6, 2024

Mutuel Field bet down to 6-5 favoritism in Pool 1 of the 2018 Kentucky Derby Future Wager

The Mutuel Field (#24), or “All Other Three-Year-Olds,” betting interest closed as the 6-5 favorite when Pool 1 of the 2018 Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW) ended Sunday evening.

The only other betting interest that closed at single-digit odds was Bolt d’Oro (#2), who closed at 7-1 after opening at 10-1 on the morning line. The dual Grade 1 winner suffered his first loss last out when third as the 3-5 favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar on November 4.

Good Magic (#10) pulled off the upset in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, recording a 4 1/4-length victory, and was bet down as the second lowest price of 11-1 among the individual interests. The Curlin colt opened at 8-1.

McKinzie (#14) opened at 20-1 but closed as the 12-1 third favorite among the individual interests. Conditioned by Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert, the Street Sense colt broke his maiden at first asking on October 28 at Santa Anita Park by 5 1/2 lengths to earn a 100 BRIS Speed Rating.

Total handle for the November 23-26 KDFW pool – the first of four scheduled wagering pools in advance of the 144th running of the $2 million Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 5, 2018 – was $250,259. Of that amount, $177,103 was wagered in the win pool and $75,156 in the exactas, which resulted in a 12.8 percent increase over last year’s $221,801 total, which saw $162,870 wagered in the win pool and $58,931 in the exactas.

Inaugurated in 1999, the Kentucky Derby Future Wager has been offered for a 20th consecutive year, but this marks only the fifth time that Churchill Downs has hosted a KDFW pool in November on closing weekend of its fall meet.