Unbeatens Mohaymen, Nyquist Favored In Final Kentucky Derby Futures Pool

Mar 29, 2016 John Asher

Shadwell Stable’s Mohaymen (#14) and Reddam Racing LLC’s reigning 2-year-old champion Nyquist (#16) – a pair of unbeaten stars scheduled for a pre- Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) showdown in Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby (GI) at Gulfstream Park – loom as the top wagering choices for Churchill Downs Racetrack’s April 1-3 fourth and final pool of its 2016 Kentucky Derby Future Wager (“KDFW”). 

               Churchill Downs odds maker Mike Battaglia has installed Mohaymen, winner of Gulfstream’s Fountain of Youth (GII) for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, as the solid 7-2 favorite among 24 wagering interests in his morning line odds. If Battaglia’s odds are validated in his effort to hold East Coast home court in the Florida Derby, the gray son of Tapit will have been the favorite 3-year-old Thoroughbred in three of the four 2016 Derby Futures pools. 

               Nyquist, the Doug O’Neill-trained winner of last fall’s $2 million Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) at Keeneland and Santa Anita’s San Vicente (GII) in his only previous start of 2016, is the only other Pool 4 betting interest with single-digit odds. The Southern California-based son of sizzling first-year sire Uncle Mo is the 8-1 second choice for the upcoming pool, but could reverse those odds with a triumph over Mohaymen in their East-West battle in the Florida Derby. 

               Next in the KDFW Pool 4 morning line is the always-popular Mutuel Field (#24, 10-1) , which includes all 3-year-olds other than 23 individual horses listed among the pool’s 24 betting interests. Also listed at 10-1 is Rebel (GII) winner Cupid (#4), half of a Bob Baffert-trained Future Wager duo that also includes Los Alamitos Futurity (GI) and Robert B. Lewis (GIII) winner Mor Spirit (#15, 12-1). Baffert won last year’s Kentucky Derby – his fourth triumph in the “Run for the Roses” – with Zayat Stable’s American Pharoah , who later became the first 3-year-old to sweep the Triple Crown since 1978 and was proclaimed Horse of the Year. 

Other well-regarded hopes include Tampa Bay Derby (GII) winner Destin (#7, 12-1), San Felipe (GII) winner Danzing Candy (#5, 12-1), Louisiana Derby (GII) winner Gun Runner (#10, 15-1) and Lecomte (GIII) winner Mo Tom (#13, 15-1). 

               The Future Wager, a Kentucky Derby tradition launched by Churchill Downs in 1999, enables fans of the Kentucky Derby to wager on contenders for its 2016 running well in advance of the race at odds that could be much more attractive than those available on Derby Day. Each Kentucky Derby Future Wager pool permits $2 minimum win bets and $2 exacta wagers, with the latter also available in $1 minimum increments in boxes and other multiple number configurations. 

               Betting on Pool 4 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager is set to begin at noon (all times EDT) on Friday and conclude through Sunday, April 3 at 6 p.m. The wager will be available at Churchill Downs; via Twinspires.com – the official online wagering platform of the Kentucky Derby – and other participating online outlets; and at racetracks and satellite wagering centers throughout North America. 

The 2016 renewal of the Kentucky Derby is set for Saturday, May 7. Winning payouts from this week’s fourth Future Wager pool will be based on the odds in place when betting in the pool concludes on Sunday. Total wagering on Future Wagers have totaled $1,082,962 thus far: $174,682 (Nov. 26-29 KDFW Pool 1), $34,960 (Nov. 26-29 Kentucky Derby Sire Future Wager), $441,209 (Feb. 12-14 Pool 2), $328,109 (March 11-13 Pool 3) and $104,002 (March 11-13 Kentucky Oaks Future Wager). 

The 23 individual betting interests in Pool 4 include eight horses that were not part of the Pool 3 wagering menu:   American Pioneer (#1, 50-1), Cherry Wine (#2, 20-1) , Creator (#3, 30-1), Dazzling Gem (#6, 50-1), Flexibility (#9, 50-1), the Japan-based UAE Derby (GI) winner Lani (#11, 50-1), Tampa Bay Derby runner-up Outwork (#17, 30-1) and Louisiana Derby runner-up Tom’s Ready (#21, 20-1) . Cherry Wine and Tom’s Ready were included in earlier pools, but were not part of the KDFW Pool 3 menu. 

Todd Pletcher , who saddled WinStar Farm’s Super Saver to win the 2010 Kentucky Derby, trains a trio of Pool 4 betting interests in Destin, Outwork and Fountain of Youth runner-up Zulu (#23, 30-1). Baffert, Chad Brown (#9 Flexibility, 50-1 and #18 Shagaf, 30-1) and Steve Asmussen (Gun Runner and #3 Creator, 30-1) each train two of the pool’s individual horses.  

             Information on the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, including real-time odds and exacta will-pays and Brisnet past performances for the pool’s betting interests, is available at the official Kentucky Derby event web site at  www.KentuckyDerby.com. 

CLICK HERE for the roster of wagering interests and morning line odds for Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 4.