'All Others' Closes Strong to Edge Unbeaten Mastery As Kentucky Derby Futures Pool 3 Favorite

Feb 27, 2017 John Asher

After more than two days of wagering during which it ranked as low as the fifth choice of bettors across North America, the always-popular “All Others” (#24) wagering interest closed strongly on Sunday’s final day of wagering to emerge as the narrow 5-1 favorite in the third of four pools of Churchill Downs Racetrack’s Kentucky Derby Future Wager (“KDFW”), edging a tightly-bunched group of individual Derby contenders headed by unbeaten McCraken (#15, 6-1) . 

Odds had climbed as high as 10-1 on the Mutuel Field (#24), or “All Others,” midway through the Feb. 24-26 pool, but strong bettor support during Pool 3’s final six-hour session on Sunday fueled a steady decline in those odds through the final position of 5-1 when wagering closed at 6 p.m. (EST). Along with the natural attraction of the Mutuel Field – which includes all 3-year-old Thoroughbreds other than the 23 individual horses in any respective KDFW Pool – support for that wagering interest likely received a boost from Saturday’s results of the $400,000 Risen Star (Grade II) at Fair Grounds. The top two finishers in the Kentucky Derby prep at the New Orleans track – Brad Grady’s victorious Girvin and Michael Langford’s runner-up Untrapped – were both members in the “All Others” interest.

 Whitham Thoroughbreds LLC’s McCraken, trainer Ian Wilkes’ winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) at Churchill Downs and Tampa Bay Downs’ Sam F. Davis (GIII), had been the overall Pool 3 favorite throughout the first two days of betting and held on to close as the favored individual horse. But close behind was the group that included Isabella De Tomaso’s unbeaten Irish War Cry (#11, 7-1), winner of the Holy Bull (GII) at Gulfstream Park for Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Graham Motion; Cheyenne Stables LLC’s unbeaten Mastery (#14, 8-1), winner of the Los Alamitos Futurity (GI) for four-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert ; John C. Oxley’s reigning Eclipse Award 2-year-old champion and Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) winner Classic Empire (#4, 11-1) and WinStar Farm, China Horse Club and SF Racing LLC’s One Liner (#17, 12-1), Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Todd Pletcher’s unbeaten winner of Oaklawn Park’s Southwest (GIII).

Overall betting in KDFW Pool 3 totaled $373,354 – an increase of 13.8 percent over the $328,109 wagered in the same pool in 2016. The 2017 total included $250,280 in $2 win wagering and $123,075 in $2 exacta betting. Total wagering during the first three pools of the 2017 Kentucky Derby Future Wager totals $925,197, and the bet’s fourth and final three-day pool is scheduled for March 31-April 2 .

The Kentucky Derby Future Wager provides racing fans with the opportunity to wager on contenders for the Kentucky Derby at odds that could be more attractive than those available on the day of America’s greatest race. Payouts in the win and exacta wagering in Pool 3 were determined by the odds in place at Sunday’s conclusion of wagering.

The 143^rd running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) is scheduled for Saturday, May 6.

The Kentucky Derby Future Wager offers $2 minimum win wagering on 24 betting interests that include 23 individual horses and the Mutuel Field, which includes all 3-year-old Thoroughbreds other than the individual wagering interests in a respective pool. Each pool also offers $2 exacta wagering on the 24 wagering interests, with the latter also available in $1 minimum increments in boxes and other multiple number configurations.

The official rules of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager prohibit scratches or refunds.  Should Churchill Downs determine that a wagering interest has encountered an injury, illness or other circumstance would prohibit that horse from competing in the 2017 Kentucky Derby, wagering on the individual will be immediately suspended.

CLICK HERE for closing odds and $2 win will-pays for Pool 3 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

For a look at $2 exacta payouts in Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 3, CLICK HERE.