Champion Forte Tabbed As 8-1 Individual Favorite
Darren Rogers/Churchill Downs
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 4 is set to open Friday with Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Grade I) hero and champion 2-year-old Forte tabbed as the 8-1 individual betting favorite among the 39 individual betting interests plus the popular No. 40 option of “All Other 3-Year-Olds” who were not listed.
Pool 4, which features $2 Win and Exacta wagering, will open Friday at noon (all times Eastern) and close Sunday at 6 p.m. Fans can wager www.TwinSpires.com along with simulcast and ADW outlets from around the country.
The comebacking Forte, a three-time Grade I winner, is based at Palm Beach Downs in South Florida and has recorded three published workouts since his return to the track. Trainer Todd Pletcher reported the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (GII) on March 4 is a possible target for Forte’s next start.
Here is the complete field for Pool 4 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (with trainer and morning line odds provided by Mike Battaglia):
In total, there are 13 new betting interests in Pool 4 from Pool 3: Determinedly, Eyeing Clover, First Defender, Frosted Departure, Funtastic Again, Game Change, Geaux Rocket Ride, General Jim, Hoosier Philly, Mage, Red Route One, Shadow Dragon and Slip Mahoney.
Brad Cox leads all trainers with a roster of 10 3-year-olds in Pool 4 followed by Steve Asmussen (6) and Pletcher (4).
Jockey Luis Saez has ridden five Pool 4 entrants in their last start: Determinedly, General Jim, Instant Coffee, Kingsbarns and Tapit Trice.
Following Pool 4, there will be two additional opportunities for fans to wager early on contenders targeting the 149th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) on Saturday, May 6. Pool 5 will run March 10-12 and Pool 6 is March 30-April 1. The lone Kentucky Oaks Future Wager will coincide with Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 5 on March 10-12.
As was the case last year, Pool 4 will assume that horses currently under the care of a trainer suspended from competing in the 2023 Kentucky Derby will not be under consideration. Instead, they will be included within the pari-mutuel field.
There are no refunds in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager. Should Churchill Downs officials determine during the duration of this week’s three-day pool that one of the wagering interests has experienced an injury, illness or other circumstance that would prevent the horse from participating in the Kentucky Derby, betting on the individual horse will be suspended immediately.
More information, Brisnet.com past performances and real-time odds on the Kentucky Derby Future Wager will be available before the pool opens Friday online at https://www.kentuckyderby.com/wager/future-wager.
