Kentucky Derby, Oaks Update: Future Pool #4 Closed Sunday

With the Kentucky Derby and Oaks just about 2 months away, the contenders are beginning to crystalize. This weekend’s results did little to shake the top choices.

The numbers below represent the odds rank of the horse, not the post position or program number.

Kentucky Derby Future Odds

The Top Contenders

1. All Other 3-Year-Olds finished at odds of 4-1. This category likely is still so low because of the fact that Baffert horses could feasibly be switched into another barn, win a final Kentucky Derby prep and make the gate. Corniche would almost assuredly be the favorite based on his current resume.
2. Smile Happy (Kenny McPeek) finished at odds of 6-1. The Runhappy colt will likely run in the Blue Grass Stakes (Grade 1) en route to the Kentucky Derby.
3. Forbidden Kingdom (Richard Mandella) finished at odds of 7-1. This runner will hope to avoid any hockey themed names in the starting gate. The winner of the San Vicente (Grade 2) and the San Felipe (Grade 2) has 2 losses. One to Messier and one to One Timer. This one points to the Santa Anita Derby (Grade 1) next.
4. Classic Causeway (Brian Lynch) finished at odds of 10-1. This runner romped in the Tampa Bay Derby, but the speed figure was extremely low and the connections don’t scream Derby contender. Nevertheless, this one fits the run and hide profile of most of the recent Derby winners.
5. Epicenter (Asmussen) finished at odds of 13-1. After a runner up finish in the Grade 3 Lecomte, this colt won the Risen Star (Grade 2) over Smile Happy who is the lowest odds single horse wager in the future pool. The Louisiana Derby (Grade 1) appears next on the trail for this winner who looks Steve Asmussen’s best chance at his first Kentucky Derby.
6. Charge It (Todd Pletcher) finished at odds of 17-1. This runner comes off a maiden breaker in his 2nd career start at Gulfstream Park. The Grade 1 Florida Derby will be the likely next step to see if this one is a true Derby contender.
7. Morello (Steve Asmussen) finished at odds of 17-1. The undefeated winner of the Gotham (Grade 3) will head to the Grade 2 Wood Memorial next. Although New York has not been a productive circuit for the Derby, there are indications that this year could be different.
8. Early Voting (Chad Brown) finished at odds of 19-1. This is another New York Campaigner who only has 2 races under the belt. After breaking the maiden Early Voting went on to win the Grade 3 Withers. The Grade 2 Wood Memorial will be the likely final prep.
9. Simplification (Antonio Sano) finished at odds of 19-1. This one comes from Florida and will almost assuredly enter the Florida Derby (Grade 1) after winning the Fountain of Youth (Grade 2).
10. White Abarrio (Safe Joseph Jr.) finished at odds of 22-1. This runner beat Simplification in impressive fashion in the Grade 3 Holy Bull. There will be a likely rematch in the Grade 1 Florida Derby. Rumor has it this one is training up a storm.

The Rest of the Board

• Zandon (Chad Brown) finished at odds of 22-1.
• Mo Donegal (Todd Pletcher) finished at odds of 24-1.
• Zozos (Brad Cox) finished at odds of 30-1.
• Rattle N Roll (Kenny McPeek) finished at odds of 31-1.
• Ethereal Road (D. Wayne Lukas) finished at odds of 32-1.
• Emmanuel (Pletcher) finished at odds of 33-1.
• Cyberknife (Brad Cox) finished at odds of 36-1.
• Un Ojo (Ricky Courville) finished at odds of 36-1.
• Barber Road (John Ortiz) finished at odds of 39-1.
• In Due Time (Kelly Breen) finished at odds of 48-1.
• Shipsational (Eddie Barker) finished at odds of 51-1.
• Major General (Todd Pletcher) finished at odds of 65-1.
• Call Me Midnight (Keith Desormeaux) finished at odds of 68-1.
• Pioneer of Medina (Todd Pletcher) finished at odds of 71-1.

Kentucky Oaks Odds

The Top Contenders

1. Echo Zulu (Steve Asmussen) finished at odds of 5-2. The 4-0 filly was last seen on November 5, 2021 winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (Grade 1). She was on another planet that day and is deserving of heavy favoritism.
2. Secret Oath (D. Wayne Lukas) finished at odds of 7-2. This runner extended her win streak to 3 after a victory in late February in the Honeybee (Grade 3).
3. All Other 3-Year-Old Fillies finished at odds of 6-1.
4. Kathleen O. (Shut McGaughey) finished at odds of 9-1. She was a winner of the Grade 2 Davona Dale at Gulfstream Park in early March and is a perfect 3-0 on the career.
5. Nest (Todd Pletcher) finished at odds of 14-1. At 3-4 lifetime this one is stringing together a nice early career. The top item on the resume was the Demoiselle (Grade 2) win in December of 2021.
6. Venti Valentine (Jorge Abreu) finished at odds of 15-1. This filly is currently listed as probable for the Grade 3 Gazelle in early April. Her 3-4 career record includes 2 stakes races. Her only graded stakes effort was a runner up finish to Nest.
7. Juju’s Map (Brad Cox) finished at odds of 22-1. The Cox trainee is a Grade 1 winner after taking the Alcibiades at Keeneland. The most recent runner up was to Echo Zulu who dominated every horse on the track at the Breeders’ Cup. There’s no shame in running second to the beast that showed up that day. This one might be the best value of any of the horses in the pool.
8. Shahama (Todd Pletcher) finished at odds of 24-1. This filly is unknown to a lot of American horseplayers. She is 4 for 4 lifetime including a Grade 3 win in the UAE Oaks. She has done all of her running at Meydan race course, home of the Dubai World Cup.
9. Turnerloose (Brad Cox) finished at odds of 24-1. Her last race was a Grade 2 victory in the Rachel Alexandra. That was at the Fair Grounds and that doesn’t always translate well elsewhere. Backers of this one will point to the fact that she is undefeated since turning 3 which can be a key age for development. She is currently pointing toward either the Fair Grounds Oaks or the Ashland in route to the Kentucky Oaks.
10. Ain’t Easy (Phil D’Amato) finished at odds of 27-1. After winning the Grade 2 Chandelier, the Santa Ysabel (Grade 3) was a bit disappointing.

The Rest of the Board

• A Mo Reay (Todd Pletcher) finished at odds of 36-1.
• Bubble Rock (Brad Cox) finished at odds of 37-1.
• Classy Edition (Todd Pletcher) finished at odds of 38-1.
• Hidden Connection (Bred Calhoun) finished at odds of 41-1.
• Awake At Midnyte (Doug O’Neill) finished at odds of 45-1.
• Nostalgic (Bill Mott) finished at odds of 46-1.
• Goddess of Fire (Todd Pletcher) finished at odds of 51-1.
• Favor (Todd Pletcher) finished at odds of 71-1.
• Sandstone (Kenny McPeek) finished at odds of 81-1.
• Bernabreezy (Matt Shirer) finished at odds of 84-1.
• Ice Orchid (John Ortiz) finished at odds of 88-1.
• Veterans Highway (Rusty Arnold) finished at odds of 93-1.
• Yuugiri (Rodolphe Brisset) finished at odds of 108-1.
• Fannie and Freddie (Al Stall Jr.) finished at odds of 154-1.

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