Churchill Downs News Release: Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 5 Opens Friday; Champion Forte Slated as 4-1 Morning Line Favorite

Mar 07, 2023

On the heels of winning his 3-year-old debut in the $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes (Grade II), Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s Forte was tabbed as the 4-1 overall morning line betting favorite in Pool 5 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which is set for its three-day span Friday-Sunday.

Pool 5 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager will run concurrently with the lone pool of the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager. In addition to $2 Win and Exacta betting, an Oaks/Derby Future Double is part of the wagering menu. The wagers will open Friday at noon (all times Eastern) and the Kentucky Derby Future Wager will close Sunday at 6 p.m. while the Oaks Future Wager will close 30 minutes later at 6:30 p.m.

Through the first four pools of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, Forte was tabbed as the individual favorite three times – Pool 2 (10-1); Pool 3 (7-1) and Pool 4 (8-1). In the first pool, Forte closed as the second individual choice at 16-1 behind Extra Anejo (12-1).

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Forte made his return to the races Saturday and cruised to a 4 1⁄2-length score in the Fountain of Youth. Previously, the talented son of Violence was victorious in the $300,000 Hopeful (GI), $600,000 Breeders’ Futurity (GI) and $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. His impressive resume earned the Eclipse Award for Champion 2-Year-Old.

Here is the complete field for Pool 5 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (with trainer and morning line odds): #1 Angel of Empire (Brad Cox, 30-1); #2 Arabian Knight (Tim Yakteen, 10-1); #3 Arabian Lion (Tim Yakteen, 50-1); #4 Blazing Sevens (Chad Brown, 40-1); #5 Cagliostro (Cherie DeVaux, 99-1); #6 Cairo (IRE) (Aidan O’Brien, 50-1); #7 Classic Car Wash (Mark Casse, 99-1): #8 Classic Catch (Todd Pletcher, 50-1); #9 Confidence Game (Keith Desormeaux, 30-1); #10 Congruent (Antonio Sano, 80-1); #11 Cyclone Mischief (Dale Romans, 40-1); #12 Denington (Kenny McPeek, 80-1); #13 Disarm (Steve Asmussen, 99-1); #14 Forte (Pletcher, 4-1); #15 Geaux Rocket Ride (Richard Mandella, 20-1); #16 General Jim (Shug McGaughey, 80-1); #17 Hejazi (Tim Yakteen, 40-1); #18 Hit Show (Brad Cox, 30-1); #19 Instant Coffee (Brad Cox, 30-1); #20 Kingsbarns (Todd Pletcher, 50-1); #21 Litigate (Todd Pletcher, 50-1); #22 Mage (Gustavo Delgado, 80-1); #23 Major Dude (Todd Pletcher, 50-1); #24 Mandarin Hero (JPN) (Terunobu Fujita, 50-1); #25 National Treasure (Tim Yakteen, 30-1); #26 Perriere (JPN) (Yoichi Kuroiwa, 50-1); #27 Practical Move (Tim Yakteen, 8-1); #28 Raise Cain (Ben Colebrook, 50-1); #29 Red Route One (Steve Asmussen, 40-1); #30 Reincarnate (Tim Yakteen, 30-1); #31 Rocket Can (Bill Mott, 40-1); #32 Skinner (John Sherriffs, 40-1); #33 Sun Thunder (Kenny McPeek, 99-1); #34 Tapit Trice (Todd Pletcher, 15-1); #35 Tapit’s Conquest (Brad Cox, 80-1); #36 Two Eagles River (Chris Hartman, 80-1): #37 Two Phil’s (Larray Rivelli, 80-1); #38 Verifying (Brad Cox, 50-1); #39 Victory Formation (Brad Cox, 80-1); and #40 “All Other 3-Year-Olds” (5-1).

Overall, there are 18 new entrants in Pool 5 from Pool 4: Arabian Knight, Arabian Lion, Cagliostro, Cairo (IRE), Classic Car Wash, Classic Catch, Congruent, Denington, Hejazi, Major Dude, Mandarin Hero, National Treasure, Perriere, Raise Cain, Reincarnate, Skinner, Sun Thunder and Two Eagles River.

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 5, Kentucky Oaks Future Wager Advances Tuesday, March 7, 2023

In the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager, D J Stable’s Champion Filly Wonder Wheel was made the 8-1 morning line favorite in the field of 39 individual betting interests plus an option for “All Other 3-Year-Old Fillies” from the 2020 foal crop that were not listed.

Trained by Mark Casse, Wonder Wheel made her seasonal debut in the $150,000 Suncoast Stakes where she was heavily backed at odds of 1-2 but was upset by fellow Kentucky Oaks Future Wager contender Dreaming of Snow.

Along with Wonder Wheel, other top fillies that were incorporated in the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager include Godolphin’s $400,000 Rachel Alexandra (GII) winner Pretty Mischievous and $300,000 Honeybee (GIII) winner Wet Paint; Gold Standard Racing’s flashy multiple stakes winner Hoosier Philly; and Stonestreet Stables’ $250,000 Demoiselle (GII) winner Julia Shining.

Here is the field for the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager (with trainer and morning line odds): #1 Affirmative Lady (Graham Motion, 99-1); #2 Ami Please (Doug O’Neill, 99-1); #3 And Tell Me Nolies (Peter Miller, 40-1); #4 Asset Purchase (Chad Brown, 30-1); #5 Atomically (Todd Pletcher, 50-1); #6 Blessed Touch (Tim Yakteen, 50-1); #7 Botanical (Brad Cox, 20-1); #8 Capella (Brad Cox, 40-1); #9 Chop Chop (Brad Cox, 40-1); #10 Clearly Unhinged (Michael McCarthy, 40-1); #11 Condensation (Chris Hartman, 40-1); #12 Dorth Vader (Mike Yates, 20-1); #13 Dreaming of Snow (Gerald Bennett, 30-1); #14 Flashy Gem (Brad Cox, 40-1); #15 Flying Connection (Todd Fincher, 50-1); #16 Gaming Girl (Todd Pletcher, 50-1); #17 Grand Love (Steve Asmussen, 50-1); #18 Guns n’ Graces (Chad Brown, 40-1); #19 Homecoming Queen (Rodolphe Brisset, 99-1); #20 Hoosier Philly (Tom Amoss, 15-1); #21 Interpolate (Chad Brown, 30-1); #22 Julia Shining (Todd Pletcher, 12-1); #23 Justique (John Shirreffs, 40-1); #24 Merlazza (Brad Cox, 99-1); #25 Mimi Kakushi (Salem Bin Ghadayer, 80-1); #26 Miracle (Todd Plecher, 20-1); #27 Munnys Gold (Todd Pletcher, 30-1); #28 Occult (Chad Brown, 20-1); #29 Pretty Mischievous (Brendan Walsh, 10-1); #30 Punchbowl (Brad Cox, 20-1); #31 Red Carpet Ready (Rusty Arnold II, 15-1); #32 Royal Spa (Rodolphe Brisset, 50-1); #33 Seduction (Todd Pletcher, 50-1); #34 She’s Lookin Lucky (Matt Shirer, 30-1); #35 Shidabhuti (Chad Brown, 15-1); #36 Southlawn (Norm Casse, 20-1); #37 The Alys Look (Brad Cox, 15-1); #38 Wet Paint (Brad Cox, 12- 1); #39 Wonder Wheel (Casse, 8-1); and #40 “All Other 3-Year-Old Fillies” (15-1).

The $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) is set for Saturday, May 6 and the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks will run one day prior on Friday, May 5.

There are no refunds in the Kentucky Derby or Oaks Future Wagers. Should Churchill Downs officials determine during the duration of this week’s three-day pool that one of the wagering interests has experienced an injury, illness or other circumstance that would prevent the horse from participating in the Kentucky Derby or Oaks, betting on the individual horse will be suspended immediately.

More information, Brisnet past performances and real-time odds on both wagers will be available before the pool opens Friday online at https://www.kentuckyderby.com/wager/future-wager.

Following this pool, there will be one additional opportunity for fans to bet early on this year’s Kentucky Derby contenders. Pool 6 will span March 30-April 1.