Lion Heart, Wimbledon And St Averil Co-Favored In Wide Open Final Pool Of 2004 Kentucky Derby Future Wager

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Another Day, Another Dollar
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (March 30, 2004) - With just over a month remaining before the 130th running of the Kentucky Derby (Grade I) on May 1, no contender has stepped forward to claim the role of favorite for America's greatest race. That fact that is reflected in the third and final pool of Churchill Downs' 2004 Kentucky Derby Future Wager ("KDFW"), which lists a trio of 3-year-old Thoroughbreds as its co-favorites heading into the pool's four-day run.

Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia has installed Smith & Tabor's Lion Heart, Stan Fulton's St Averil and James McIngvale's Wimbledon as 10-1 co-favorites in Pool 3's field of 24 wagering interests. Wagering on KDFW Pool 3 opens at noon (all times Eastern) on Thursday, April 1 and continues through Sunday, April 4 at 6:30 p.m.

"Weeks of prep races have left us with no clear favorite for the Kentucky Derby and the morning line for Pool 3 of the Derby Future Wager reflects that murky Derby picture," said Battaglia. "Several of the pool's horses are running this weekend in the Santa Anita and Illinois Derbies, but it would take a dominating performance for one of those horses to emerge as a solid favorite for this wide open Kentucky Derby."

The Kentucky Derby Future Wager allows racing fans to bet on contenders for the "Run for the Roses" weeks in advance of the race at odds that could be more attractive than those they receive on Derby Day. It is a $2 minimum wager and is a win bet only. There are 24 wagering interests in each KDFW pool, which include 23 individual horses and a mutuel field that contains all other 3-year-old Thoroughbreds - regardless of whether those horses are nominated to the Kentucky Derby and the Visa Triple Crown. There are no refunds in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

A total of $895,924 was wagered in the first two pools of the 2004 Derby Future Wager. Betting in February's opening pool totaled $536,958 - the second largest single pool total in the wager's six-year history - and $358,966 in Pool 2 in mid-March.

The mutuel field was the 9-5 favorite in February's opening pool and the 4-1 choice in Pool 2, but Battaglia has listed that wagering interest at 20-1 for this week's pool. Listed close behind the co-favorites in KDFW Pool 3 is a quartet of 12-1 shots: Mike Pegram's San Felipe (GII) winner Preachinatthebar; Someday Farm's unbeaten Smarty Jones; Master David, the Bobby Frankel-trained winner of the Sham Stakes; and Paraneck Stable's Song of the Sword, a winner of two of three starts.

Five horses are listed at 15-1 odds in Pool 3's morning line. That group includes Buckram Oak Farm's Swale (GIII) runner-up Eurosilver; Steve Taub's Imperialism, winner of the San Rafael (GII) and San Vicente (GII); Dogwood Stable's Tampa Bay Derby (GIII) winner Limehouse; Robert V. La Penta's The Cliff's Edge, third in the Florida Derby (GI); and Aaron and Marie Jones' Florida Derby runner-up Value Plus.

KDFW Pool 3 includes six new wagering interests: Florida Derby winner Friends Lake; Preachinatthebar; Quintons Gold Rush, the fourth-place finisher in the San Rafael; Lane's End (GII) winner Sinister G; Smarty Jones; and Song of the Sword. Wagering interests for the pool were chosen by a committee that included Mike Watchmaker, national handicapper for the Daily Racing Form; Brad Free, the DRF's West Coast correspondent; and John Asher, Churchill Downs' vice president for communications.

Real time odds and other information on the Kentucky Derby Future Wager are available on the Internet at www.kentuckyderby.com.
http://www.kentuckyderby.com
 
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Good Luck with Lion Heart, Breeding suggests 1 1/4 too much for him to handle, BlueGrass will tell more on him as Keeneland is a super speed biased track

[This message was edited by Chris@ Olympic Sports on March 30, 2004 at 04:54 PM.]
 

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