January 29, 2006
Update: Wagering is now closed and the final odds posted below. As expected the field wound up the favorite at 3-1. First Samurai closed as the pool's second choice at 7-1 and Stevie Wonderboy was close behind at 8-1. The total pool was down from last year's record high to $552,627, third highest ever for the first pool. The Kentucky Oaks had only $66,548 wagered on it and the field was also favored there at 7-2 with Folklore second choice at 6-1 and Wild Fit next at 7-1.
The 2006 edition of Churchill Downs' Kentucky Derby Future Wager is set to open its first four-day run on Thursday, Jan. 26 and the mutuel field, the wagering interest that includes all 3-year-olds other than the 23 individual betting interests in the pool, has been installed as a solid 4-1 favorite.
The mutuel field has been favored in the opening Kentucky Derby Future Pool in each year since Churchill Downs introduced the wager in 1999. Churchill Downs handicapper Mike Battaglia saw no reason to think there would be a change in the first of this year's three pools and installed the mutuel field as favorite in his morning line over individual stars that include 2005 2-year-old champion Stevie Wonderboy and standouts such as First Samurai, Brother Derek and Private Vow.
The Kentucky Oaks Future Wager is open at the same time, and the morning line odds of 7-2 on the mutuel field in Pool 1 make that wagering interest a strong favorite over newly crowned 2005 2-year-old filly champion and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (Grade I) winner Folklore. Robert and Beverly Lewis' daughter of Tiznow is the favored individual filly at 8-1. Other highly regarded individual fillies listed among the wagering interests include Hollywood Starlet (GI) winner Diplomat Lady and Del Mar Debutante (GI) winner Wild Fit, which are both listed at odds of 12-1.
Wagering on the four-day pool opens at noon (all times EST) on Thursday and will continue until 6 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 29. Racetracks and off-track betting centers across North America will offer the wager, which will be offered in Canada for the first time as Toronto's Woodbine Racecourse has gained approval to offer the bet.
Below are the wagering interests and morning line odds for both races. Free past performances are available from Daily Racing Form and TrackMaster.
| Derby Pool 1 | |||
| # | Name | Final Odds | |
| 1 | A.P. Warrior | 31-1 | |
| 2 | Achilles of Troy | 26-1 | |
| 3 | Barbaro | 19-1 | |
| 4 | Barbican | 18-1 | |
| 5 | Blazing Rate | 101-1 | |
| 6 | Bluegrass Cat | 15-1 | |
| 7 | Bob and John | 31-1 | |
| 8 | Brother Derek | 16-1 | |
| 9 | Cause to Believe | 59-1 | |
| 10 | Doctor Decherd | 68-1 | |
| 11 | First Samurai | 7-1 | |
| 12 | Flashy Bull | 45-1 | |
| 13 | Half Ours | 38-1 | |
| 14 | Henny Hughes | 27-1 | |
| 15 | High Cotton | 62-1 | |
| 16 | Itsallboutthechase | 48-1 | |
| 17 | Keyed Entry | 53-1 | |
| 18 | Lawyer Ron | 21-1 | |
| 19 | Point Determined | 18-1 | |
| 20 | Private Vow | 14-1 | |
| 21 | Sorcerer's Stone | 45-1 | |
| 22 | Stevie Wonderboy | 8-1 | |
| 23 | Your Tent or Mine | 21-1 | |
| 24 | All Other 3 YOs | 3-1 | |
| Oaks Pool 1 | |||
| # | Name | Final Odds | |
| 1 | Adieu | 18-1 | |
| 2 | Baghdaria | 45-1 | |
| 3 | Balance | 13-1 | |
| 4 | Better Now | 43-1 | |
| 5 | Celestial Legend | 38-1 | |
| 6 | Dance Daily | 42-1 | |
| 7 | Daytime Promise | 46-1 | |
| 8 | Diplomat Lady | 26-1 | |
| 9 | Ex Caelis | 24-1 | |
| 10 | Folklore | 6-1 | |
| 11 | French Park | 15-1 | |
| 12 | Itty Bitty Pretty | 25-1 | |
| 13 | Original Spin | 19-1 | |
| 14 | Sabatini | 19-1 | |
| 15 | Seam Seeker | 53-1 | |
| 16 | Sensation | 36-1 | |
| 17 | Silvestris | 66-1 | |
| 18 | Somethinaboutbetty | 28-1 | |
| 19 | Sugar Swirl | 36-1 | |
| 20 | Wait A While | 49-1 | |
| 21 | Wild Fit | 7-1 | |
| 22 | Wonder Lady Anne L | 18-1 | |
| 23 | Yachats | 37-1 | |
| 24 | All Other 3YO Fillies | 7-2 | |
