Mutuel field favored in Kentucky Derby Future Wager

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Louisville, KY (Sports Network) - The mutuel field, undefeated Algorithms and Union Rags are listed as the three favorites for the first Kentucky Derby Future Wager for the 2012 Run for the Roses.

The pool is comprised of 23 individual three-year-olds plus the mutuel field. Wagering for the Future Pool begins Friday at noon (et) and concludes Sunday at 6 p.m. (et).

As has been the custom the mutuel field is the early favorite at 9-5. The mutuel field includes all three-year-olds not listed in the pool.

Holy Bull Stakes winner Algorithms is the top individual three-year-old at 8-1. The colt upset 2011 champion two-year-old Hansen in the Holy Bull last month.

Union Rags is at 10-1. The colt was undefeated heading into last November's Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs. He finished second, a head behind Hansen. Union Rags is expected to make his 2012 debut at Gulfstream Park in the Fountain of Youth Stakes on February 26.

Hansen is 12-1 in the opening odds.

"The mutuel field has been a solid favorite in every opening pool of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager and, given the loss by two-year-old champion Hansen in his first start as a three-year-old, there is every reason to think the 'all others' bet will be a strong-to-heavy favorite in what appears to be a wide-open crop of Kentucky Derby candidates," said track handicapper Mike Battaglia. "The 'now' horse is Algorithms, who is unbeaten, comes from the Pletcher barn, has a strong pedigree and easily handled the reigning two-year- old champ in the Holy Bull. The speed figures assigned to that win were impressive, so you can expect a lot of bettors to move in his direction. But every pool has interesting Derby prospects at attractive odds, and we should remember that last year's Derby winner, Animal Kingdom, did not even appear as an individual wagering interest until Pool 3. So much can happen on the road to the Kentucky Derby."

Here is the complete list of the 24 betting interests for the first Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

Number Wagering Interest Morning line odds Final odds:

1. Algorithms 8-1

2. Alpha 20-1

3. Battle Hardened 30-1

4. Creative Cause 20-1

5. Discreet Dancer 15-1

6. Dullahan 20-1

7. El Padrino 20-1

8. Empire Way 50-1

9. Ever So Lucky 20-1

10. Fed Biz 20-1

11. Gemologist 20-1

12. Hansen 12-1

13. I'll Have Another 20-1

14. Junebugred 50-1

15. Liaison 20-1

16. Longview Drive 50-1

17. Midnight Transfer 50-1

18. Mr. Bowling 50-1

19. Out of Bounds 20-1

20. Rousing Sermon 30-1

21. Sabercat 30-1

22. Take Charge Indy 30-1

23. Union Rags 10-1

24. All Other 3YOs (field) 9-5

The remaining two Future Wagers will be held March 2-4 and March 30-April 1.

The 138th Kentucky Derby will be conducted on Saturday, May 5 at Churchill Downs.