Essential Quality tabbed as 3-1 morning line favorite for Pool 5 of Kentucky Derby Future Wager
Essential Quality (Coady Photo/Keeneland)
March 23rd, 2021
Essential Quality has done everything right so far, opening 2021 with a convincing victory in the Southwest S. (G3) at Oaklawn Park, and the unbeaten champion is expected to go favored among 24 betting interests in Pool 5 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW) this weekend.
Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia has installed Essential Quality as the 3-1 morning line favorite for Pool 5.
Pool 5 of the KDFW is the final pari-mutuel opportunity for bettors to get early action prior to the 147th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 1. The three-day pool opens Friday at noon (all times Eastern) and will close Sunday at 6 p.m.
Wagering will be available on www.TwinSpires.com.
Currently based at Fair Grounds with Brad Cox, Essential Quality will make his final Kentucky Derby prep in the $800,000 Blue Grass S. (G2) at Keeneland on April 3. Cox also has Caddo River (30-1) and Mandaloun (30-1) in Pool 5.
Fountain of Youth S. (G2) and Holy Bull S. (G3) Greatest Honour comes next on the morning line at 3-1. He will seek a sweep of the Gulfstream Park qualifiers in Saturday’s $800,000 Florida Derby (G1).
Rebel S. (G2) victor Concert Tour, the expected favorite for the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) on April 10, is the early 9-2 third choice. The Gary and Mary West hombred is one of four individual Pool 5 runners for six-time Kentucky Derby winner Bob Baffert.
Hozier (30-1), Medina Spirit (20-1), and Spielberg (50-1) are also part of the Baffert contingent.
Wagering has been suspended on Big Lake, who has been removed from consideration due to an injury.
| 1. Big Lake | SCRATCH |
|---|
2. Caddo River | 30-1 |
3. Collaborate | 30-1 |
4. Concert Tour | 9-2 |
5. Crowded Trade | 30-1 |
6. Dream Shake | 50-1 |
7. Essential Quality | 3-1 |
8. Greatest Honour | 4-1 |
9. Helium | 30-1 |
10. Hidden Stash | 50-1 |
11. Highly Motivated | 30-1 |
12. Hot Rod Charlie | 6-1 |
13. Hozier | 30-1 |
14. Mandaloun | 30-1 |
15. Medina Spirit | 20-1 |
16. Midnight Bourbon | 30-1 |
17. O Besos | 50-1 |
18. Prevalence | 20-1 |
19. Proxy | 30-1 |
20. Risk Taking | 30-1 |
21. Rock Your World | 50-1 |
22. Spielberg | 50-1 |
23. Weyburn | 30-1 |
24. All Other 3-Year-Olds | 20-1 |
The KDFW, which features $2 Win and Exacta wagering, provide fans with an opportunity to place bets on possible entrants in the Kentucky Derby at odds that could be far greater than those available on the day of the race.
There are no refunds in the KDFW. Should Churchill Downs officials determine during the duration of the 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 and real-time odds are available online at www.KentuckyDerby.com/FutureWager.
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