Kentucky Derby Future Wager: Forte is new morning-line favorite

Photo: Ron Flatter

On the heels of winning his 3-year-old debut in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes, Forte was tabbed as the 4-1 overall morning-line betting favorite in pool 5 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which is set for its three-day span Friday through Sunday.

Pool 5 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager will run concurrently with the lone pool of the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager. In addition to $2 win and exacta betting, an Oaks/Derby future double is part of the wagering menu. The wagers will open Friday at noon EST. The Kentucky Derby Future Wager will close Sunday at 6 p.m. EDT, and the Oaks Future Wager will close 30 minutes later at 6:30 p.m. EDT.

Through the first four pools of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, Forte was tabbed as the individual favorite three times – Pool 2 (10-1); Pool 3 (7-1) and Pool 4 (8-1). In the first pool, Forte closed as the second individual choice at 16-1 behind Extra Anejo (12-1).

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Forte made his return to the races Saturday and cruised to a 4 1/2-length score in the Fountain of Youth. Previously, the talented son of Violence was victorious in the Hopeful (G1), Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. His impressive resume earned the Eclipse Award for champion 2-year-old.

Overall, there are 18 new entrants in pool 5 from pool 4: Arabian Knight, Arabian Lion, Cagliostro, Cairo, Classic Car Wash, Classic Catch, Congruent, Denington, Hejazi, Major Dude, Mandarin Hero, National Treasure, Perriere, Raise Cain, Reincarnate, Skinner, Sun Thunder and Two Eagles River.

Kentucky Derby Future Wager pool 5

After this pool, there will be one additional opportunity for fans to bet early on this year’s Kentucky Derby contenders. Pool 6 will span March 30-April 1.

 KDFW  Trainer  Sire
14. Forte  4-1Todd PletcherViolence
40. All other 3-year-olds  5-1  
27. Practical Move  8-1Tim YakteenPractical Joke
  2. Arabian Knight10-1Tim YakteenUncle Mo
34. Tapit Trice15-1Todd PletcherTapit
15. Geaux Rocket Ride20-1Richard MandellaCandy Ride
  1. Angel of Empire30-1Brad CoxClassic Empire
  9. Confidence Game30-1Keith DesormeauxCandy Ride
18. Hit Show30-1Brad CoxCandy Ride
19. Instant Coffee30-1Brad CoxBold d'Oro
25. National Treasure30-1Tim YakteenQuality Road
30. Reincarnate30-1Tim YakteenGood Magic
  4. Blazing Sevens40-1Chad BrownGood Magic
11. Cyclone Mischief40-1Dale RomansInto Mischief
17. Hejazi40-1Tim YakteenBernardini
29. Red Route One40-1Steve AsmussenGun Runner
31. Rocket Can40-1Bill MottInto Mischief
32. Skinner40-1John SherriffsCurlin
  3. Arabian Lion50-1Tim YakteenJustify
  6. Cairo (IRE)50-1Aidan O'BrienQuality Road
  8. Classic Catch50-1Todd PletcherClassic Empire
20. Kingsbarns50-1Todd PletcherUncle Mo
21. Litigate50-1Todd PletcherBlame
23. Major Dude50-1Todd PletcherBolt d'Oro
24. Mandarin Hero (JPN)50-1Terunobu FujitaShanghai Bobby
26. Perriere (JPN)50-1Yoichi KuroiwaHenny Hughes
28. Raise Cain50-1Ben ColebookViolence
38. Verifying50-1Brad CoxJustify
10. Congruent80-1Antonio SanoTapit
12. Denington80-1Kenny McPeekGun Runner
16. General Jim80-1Shug McGaugheyInto Mischief
22. Mage80-1Gustavo DelgadoGood Magic
35. Tapit's Conquest80-1Brad CoxTapit
36. Two Eagles River80-1Chris HartmanCloud Computing
37. Two Phil's80-1Larry RivelliHard Spun
39. Victory Formation80-1Brad CoxTapwrit
  5. Cagliostro99-1Cherie DeVauxUpstart
  7. Classic Car Wash99-1Mark CasseNoble Bird
13. Disarm99-1Steve AsmussenGun Runner
33. Sun Thunder99-1Kenny McPeekInto Mischief

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