Big Brown Early Choice in Final Pool of KDFW

Unbeaten newcomer Big Brown, a dazzling five-length winner in his stakes debut in the $1 million Florida Derby (Grade I), has been installed as the 3-1 morning line favorite for the third and final pool for Churchill Downs’ 2008 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which opens its four-day run on Thursday, April 3.

Owned by IEAH Stables and Paul Pompa Jr., the Richard Dutrow Jr.-trained son of Boundary was listed as a narrow choice over Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Louisiana Derby (GII) winner Pyro in the pool that will give racing fans throughout North America the opportunity to wager on contenders for the 134th running of the $2 million-guaranteed Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI), which will be run on May 3 at Churchill Downs. The Kentucky Derby Future Wager, a $2 minimum wager and a win bet only, offers fans the opportunity to wager on contenders for the “Run for the Roses” at odds that could be significantly greater than those available on the day of the race

The Steve Asmussen-trained Pyro was the 4-1 favorite in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which ran from March 6-9 and attracted total wagering of $325,306. A total of $764,685 has been wagered during the first two pools of the 2008 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which is now in its 10th year.

Betting on Pool 3 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager is scheduled to open at noon (all times EDT) on Thursday, April 3. The pool will close at 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 6, and winning payouts on the pool will be based on odds that are in place at the conclusion of wagering. Churchill Downs’ companion Kentucky Oaks Future Wager will also open at noon on Thursday. The Oaks wager will close at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday.

While Big Brown and Pyro occupy the top two spots on the roster of 24 wagering interests in Pool 3 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia expects strong support for Robert LaPenta’s 2007 2-year-old champion War Pass, who is listed as the 6-1 third choice in the pool’s morning line odds. The Nick Zito-trained colt will attempt to bounce back from a disappointing run in the Tampa Bay Derby, his first career loss, when he runs in Saturday’s $750,000 Wood Memorial (GI) at Aqueduct. California-based Colonel John and El Gato Malo, both of whom are set to run in Saturday’s $1 million Santa Anita Derby (GI), are next at odds of 12-1. The mutuel field, which includes all 3-year-olds other than the 23 individual horses in Pool 3, stands at odds of 15-1. The “all others” bet was favored in Pool 1 of the 2008 Derby Future bet.

Big Brown is one of eight new betting interests in Pool 3 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager. Others include Lane’s End Stakes (GII) winner Adriano (20-1); Tampa Bay Derby runner-up Atoned (30-1); Tampa Bay Derby winner Big Truck (20-1); WinStar Derby winner Liberty Bull (50-1); Louisiana Derby (GII) winner My Pal Charlie (50-1); San Miguel winner Salute the Sarge; and Tomcito (30-1), a Peruvian import who finished third to Big Brown in the Florida Derby.

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

KDFW Odds