Champion War Pass Favored After Opening Day of Pool 2 of Kentucky Derby Future Wager

Robert LaPenta’s unbeaten War Pass, the champion 2-year-old of 2007, stood as a solid 5-2 favorite among racing fans across North America when betting concluded on the opening day of Pool 2 of Churchill Downs’ 2008 Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

Fans who hoped to get an early wager on the horse that will win the May 3 Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (GI) at Churchill Downs wagered $25,181 during the first day of the second pool 2008 Kentucky Derby Future Wager. Betting on Pool 2 is schedule to resume at noon on Friday, March 7. The pool will close at 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 9, and winning payouts will be based on odds that are in place at the conclusion of wagering in the pool.

The Kentucky Derby Future Wager is a minimum $2 wager and a win bet only. It offers fans an opportunity to wager on contenders for the $2 million Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (GI) at odds that could be greater than those they would receive on the day of the race. There are no refunds in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager. The third and final pool of the 2008 Kentucky Derby Future Wager is scheduled for April 3-6, while the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands is set for Saturday, May 3.

War Pass, a Nick Zito-trained son of Cherokee Run, the third choice among bettors in last month’s opening pool of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, was a clear choice over Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC’s Pyro, the morning line favorite for Saturday’s Louisiana Derby (Grade II) who ended the day at odds of 6-1. The mutuel field, which includes all 3-year-old Thoroughbreds other than the 23 individual horses on the Pool 1 betting roster, also closed at 6-1 but slightly more money had been wagered during the day on Pyro.

Other wagering interests that attracted solid opening day support in Pool 2 included Southwest (GIII) winner Denis of Cork (10-1), Remsen (GII) winner Court Vision (12-1), Sham (GIII) winner Colonel John (15-1) and San Vicente (GII) winner Georgie Boy (18-1).

Real time odds on Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager are available on the official Kentucky Derby Web site at www.kentuckyderby.com. The wager’s third and final pool is set for April 3-6.