Kentucky Derby Future Wager: Verrazano narrow favorite in Pool 3

LOUISVILLE – With one day to go in the third and final pool of the 2013 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, Verrazano is a 6-1 favorite over the mutuel field.

The final six hours of wagering into Pool 3 began at noon Eastern and closes at 6 p.m.

At the close of Saturday wagering, and with $129,503 in the win pool, Verrazano was the lukewarm choice over the field, the 24th or “all others” option, which stood at 8-1. They were followed in close order by Itsmyluckyday (10-1), Revolutionary (11-1), Orb (12-1), Vyjack (12-1), Shanghai Bobby (14-1), Hear the Ghost (15-1), and War Academy (16-1). Another $65,901 had been bet into the exacta pool, for a combined handle of $195,404.

A substantial portion of the Pool 3 handle can be expected to come today, as wagering on Sundays typically more than doubles the two previous days combined. As with any parimutuel wager, odds are not locked in until the pool closes.

The only listed Pool 3 horse to run in the Spiral Stakes on Saturday at Turfway Park was Uncaptured, who ran a good second behind Black Onyx. He enters the final day of wagering at 33-1.

The only separate interest running today in the Sunland Derby is Shakin It Up, but the race will be run well after the pool has closed, with post time set for 7:40 p.m. Eastern.

Pool 1 was held Feb. 8-10 and Pool 2 March 1-3. The field closed as the 3-2 favorite in Pool 1 and the 3-1 choice in Pool 2. Typically, as the Kentucky Derby draws nearer, the odds on the field tend to drift higher, and a separate interest usually closes as the Pool 3 favorite.

Before the opening of Pool 3, the two-pool aggregate for 2013 stands at $1,028,531, well short of the three-pool record of $1,665,990 set in 2005. The highest Pool 3 handle was $533,973, also in 2005.

Live streaming odds and exacta will-pays are available on television monitors at tracks and wagering outlets.

This is the 15th year Churchill Downs has offered parimutuel futures. Results are predicated on the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 4.