Unbeaten Big Brown a strong favorite in final pool of KDFW

IEAH Stable and Paul Pompa Jr.’s unbeaten Big Brown, the dominating winner of last week’s Florida Derby (Grade I), took on the look of the ultimate favorite for the $2 million-guaranteed Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) when he finished as a solid fan’s choice in the third and final pool of Churchill Downs’ 2008 Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

The three-year-old son of Boundary, perfect in three career starts, closed at odds of 3-1 when the four-day pool concluded on Sunday, April 6 at 6 p.m. (EDT). Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr.’s star was a clear choice over Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Pyro, the winner of the Louisiana Derby (GII) and the 5-1 second choice in Pool 3. Big Brown was not included among the individual betting interests in the first two pools of the 2008 Kentucky Derby Future Wager. The only Derby winner to be omitted from the first two Derby Future pools before being added to the roster of wagering interests in the year’s final pool was Smarty Jones in 2004.

Big Brown closed at $3.30-to-1 and is the heaviest Pool 3 favorite since Bellamy Road closed as the $3.40-to-$1 favorite in 2005. Bellamy Road would finish seventh to Giacomo in that Kentucky Derby. The biggest favorite in Pool 3 history was Point Given, who closed at 2-1 in the final pool of 2001 before the eventual “Horse of the Year” finished fifth to Monarchos in the Derby. Fusaichi Pegasus, who won the 2000 Kentucky Derby, also closed as a 2-1favorite in that year’s final Derby Future pool

Wagering on Pool 3 of the Kentucky Derby Future wager totaled $291,835 during its April 3-6 run. A total of $1,056,520 was wagered on all three pools in 2008. Total betting on the wager topped the $1 million mark for the ninth consecutive time in its 10-year history. Wagering on the pool concluded on Sunday at 6 p.m. (EDT) and winning payouts in Pool 3 will be based on the pool’s final odds.

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 Kentucky Derby 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 134th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands is scheduled for Saturday, May 3.

While the top two choices did not compete during Pool 3’s four-day run, a trio of weekend prep races did have a significant impact on the pool’s odds. WinStar Farm’s Colonel John, an impressive winner in the Santa Anita Derby (GI), attracted strong support on the pool’s final day and was the 6-1 third choice. Tale of Ekati, who upset War Pass in the Wood Memorial (GI), closed at 18-1 after his odds had floated as high as 77-1 early in the pool. Illinois Derby (GII) winner Recapturetheglory was not a betting interest in Pool 3, so he was a member of the mutuel field, which included all 3-year-olds other than the 23 individual horses in the pool. The “all others” interest closed at 14-1.