Baffert Runners Prominent in Second Derby Future Pool

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert's grade I-winning duo of Game Winner and Improbable are the individual morning-line favorites in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager but "All other 3-year-olds" is expected to be the overall preference when betting concludes Sunday, Feb. 10.


Veteran oddsmaker Mike Battaglia has installed "All other 3-year-olds" as the 5-2 early choice in the field of 24 betting interests for the three-day pool, which opens at noon (all times ET) Feb. 8 and concludes at 6 p.m. Feb. 10. The pari-mutuel field for the first pool of the new year has closed as the bettors' choice every year since the wager was inaugurated in 1999, and the final odds were 5-2 each of the past four years. 

Malibu Moon
Unbeaten 2-year-old champion and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Game Winner is expected to garner the most support among the 23 individual betting interests with morning-line odds of 6-1. Los Alamitos Futurity (G1) hero Improbable was projected as the 8-1 third choice. 

Overall, five-time Kentucky Derby (G1)-winner Baffert, who swept last year's Triple Crown with Justify , trains four of the betting interests. He also conditions maiden winner Coliseum (15-1), who impressively won his debut but faltered in his first attempt around two turns; and multiple graded stakes-winner Mucho Gusto (15-1), who won last weekend's Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita Park.

Here's the complete Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2 field (with trainer and morning-line odds): #1 Bourbon War (Mark Hennig, 50-1); #2 Coliseum (Baffert, 15-1); #3 Game Winner (Baffert, 6-1); #4 Global Campaign (Stanley Hough, 50-1); #5 Gray Attempt (Jinks Fires, 50-1); #6 Gunmetal Gray (Jerry Hollendorfer, 20-1); #7 Harvey Wallbanger (Kenny McPeek, 20-1); #8 Hidden Scroll (Bill Mott, 12-1); #9 Improbable (Baffert, 8-1); #10 Instagrand (Hollendorfer, 10-1); #11 Knicks Go (Ben Colebrook, 30-1); #12 Limonite (Steve Asmussen, 50-1); #13 Maximus Mischief (Butch Reid, 20-1); #14 Mucho Gusto (Baffert, 15-1); #15 Network Effect (Chad Brown, 30-1); #16 Owendale (Brad Cox, 50-1); #17 Signalman (McPeek, 20-1); #18 Tacitus (Mott, 50-1); #19 Tax (Danny Gargan, 20-1); #20 Vekoma (George Weaver, 30-1); #21 Walking Thunder (Ahmad bin Harmash, 50-1); #22 War of Will (Mark Casse, 30-1); #23 Win Win Win (Mike Trombetta, 30-1); and #24 "All other 3-year-olds" (5-2).

Total handle for Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager Nov. 22-25 was $258,389. "All other 3-year-old colts and geldings" closed as the 6-5 favorite with Game Winner at 5-1.

For free past performances of the Pool 2 horses from Brisnet, click here.
          
Dates for the remaining 2019 Kentucky Derby future pools are March 8-10 (Pool 3) and April 5-7 (Pool 4). The lone Kentucky Oaks Future Wager will coincide with Pool 3 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager March 8-10.