UNCLE MO FAVORED IN MARCH DERBY FUTURE WAGER

Repole Stable’s unbeaten champion Uncle Mo, an easy winner in his 2011 debut in Saturday’s $100,000 Timely Writer Stakes at Gulfstream Park, emerged as the favorite in the second of three pools of Churchill Downs’ 2011 Kentucky Derby Future Wager. The results of the second pool (March 11-13) validated the acknowledged status of America’s reigning 2-year-old champion as winner of last fall’s $2 million Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr I) as the favorite for this year’s 137th running of the $2 million guaranteed Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) Saturday, May 7.

The Todd Pletcher-trained son of Indian Charlie, who has yet to be seriously challenged in his four career races, was the narrow 3-1 favorite when Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2 betting closed Sunday at 6 p.m. at racetracks and off-track betting centers, along with TwinSpires.com and other advance deposit wagering platforms. But close behind was the Mutuel Field, or “All Others”, at 7-2. The ‘all others’ bet includes all 3-year-olds other than the 23 individual horses in the pool – a massive group that included weekend Kentucky Derby prep race winners Premier Pegasus – who knocked off KDFW stars Jaycito, Comma to the Top and Runflatout in the San Felipe (gr. II) at Santa Anita – and Watch Me Go, the 43-1 longshot who upset KDFW wagering interest Brethren in the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II).

Total betting during the three-day Pool 2 was $376,699, which included $97,165 wagered in the exacta pool. Total betting was the sixth-highest Pool 2 figure in the Derby Future bet’s 13-year history. Combined wagering in the first two Derby Future pools of 2011 stands at $969,191. KDFW Pool 2 mutuel payouts on Kentucky Derby Day will be determined by the odds that were in place at Sunday’s close of betting at North American racetracks and off-track betting facilities, TwinSpires.com and other advance deposit wagering outlets.

The third and final Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool of 2011 is set for April 1-3.

Wagering interests for the Kentucky Derby Future Wager are chosen by a panel that includes West Coast correspondent Brad Free and national handicapper Mike Watchmaker, both of Daily Racing Form, and John Asher, vice president of Racing Communications at Churchill Downs.

Kentucky Derby Future Wager
Pool 2, March 11-13

Wagering Interest / Final Odds
1 Anthony’s Cross / 45-1
2 Archarcharch / 50-1
3 Astrology / 53-1
4 Brethren / 30-1
5 Comma to the Top /85-1
6 Dialed In / 11-1
7 Elite Alex / 31-1
8 Gourmet Dinner / 42-1
9 J P’s Gusto / 61-1
10 Jaycito / 16-1
11 Machen / 68-1
12 Mucho Macho Man / 29-1
13 Rogue Romance / 36-1
14 Runflatout / 31-1
15 Santiva / 31-1
16 Silver Medallion / 31-1
17 Soldat / 13-1
18 Stay Thirsty / 25-1
19 Sway Away / 18-1
20 Sweet Ducky / 75-1
21 The Factor 32-1
22 To Honor and Serve / 14-1
23 Uncle Mo / 3-1
24 Mutuel Field (All Others) / 7-2