Forte in a work Saturday at Churchill Downs. (JennyPhoto/Past The Wire)
Advance Betting on Middle Jewel of Triple Crown Closes Saturday
David Joseph/Maryland Jockey Club
BALTIMORE, Md. – Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s champion Forte remains a strong favorite in the inaugural Preakness Future Wager following the close of Sunday’s live racing in Maryland.
A total of $84,651 was in the win pool at the conclusion of Sunday’s eight-race program from Laurel Park. The Preakness Future Bet opened at noon Friday, April 28 and will close at approximately 6 p.m. Saturday, May 6, about an hour prior to the running of the Kentucky Derby (G1).
A winner of five straight races starting with the Hopeful (G1), Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at 2 and Fountain of Youth (G2) and Florida Derby (G1) this year, Forte sits atop a list of 27 individual horses and a field entry of “all other 3-year-olds” at Preakness Future Wager odds of 3-1 heading into the Derby.
Angel of Empire, who enters the Derby off wins in the Risen Star (G2) and Arkansas Derby (G1), is second choice in the Preakness Future Wager at 9-1, ahead of Lexington (G3) winner First Mission (11-1) and Forte’s Todd Pletcher-trained stablemate Tapit Trice (12-1), winner of the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and Blue Grass (G1). Both Angel of Empire and First Mission are trained by Brad Cox.
Japanese horse Derma Sotogake (JPN), winner of the UAE Derby (G2), and Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Practical Move were each 14-1. The field entry of “all other 3-year-olds” stood at 15-1, while automatic Preakness qualifiers Red Route One and Chase the Chaos were at 22-1 and 70-1, respectively.
The Preakness Future Wager was unanimously approved by the Maryland Racing Commission at its April 4 meeting. Similar to that of future wagers for the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks (G1), bettors are not refunded if their selection does not run in the Preakness, which is limited to a maximum of 14 starters.
The 148th Preakness Stakes (G1), Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, will be run Saturday, May 20 at historic Pimlico Race Course. Entries will be taken, and post positions drawn Monday, May 15.
For rules, up-to-date odds or to place a bet on the Preakness Future Wager visit www.preakness.com/future-wager
Post position draw for the Kentucky Derby is Monday at 2 p.m.
