2012 Kentucky Derby Future Odds—Top Contenders Identified in Pool 2 of Kentucky Derby Future Wager

Despite recent strong performances from a handful of Kentucky Derby contenders, bettors still see the 2012 Kentucky Derby as being a wide-open affair two months out. In Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, the field, which encompasses all other 3-year-olds not among the 23 individual betting interests in Pool 2, was made the 3-to-1 favorite. Union Rags, who was a smashing winner of the Grade 1 Fountain of Youth Stakes in his last start, was the second-choice at 4-to-1.

Last year's 2-year-old champion, Hansen, was made the third-choice in the wagering at 9-to-1. Hansen drew heavy action following impressive win in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct during Pool 2 that put back in the Kentucky Derby mix and squarely on the mind of bettors with an on March 3.

According to Churchill Downs, bettors poured in $411,368 in win and exacta wagers in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager. That's the sixth-highest handle for Pool 2 since the Kentucky Derby Future Wager was introduced in 1999. Pool 1 of the 2012 Kentucky Derby Future Wager had a record handle of $631,304.

Unfortunately, the risk of betting the Kentucky Derby Future Wager was exposed just one day after Pool 2 closed. Sham Stakes winner Out of Bounds, who was being pointed to the San Felipe Stakes on March 10 at Santa Anita, was injured during a workout Monday after closing at 23-to-1 in the future pool. Out of Bounds is expected to be out for at least a couple of months and will not participate in the Triple Crown.

Hansen's sharp victory in the Gotham Stakes showed how quickly things can change on the road to the Kentucky Derby. Last month, bettors were falling off the Hansen bandwagon in droves when he was easily defeated in the Holy Bull Stakes by Algorithms, who is now also off the Kentucky Derby trail because of injury. Bettors began to question whether Hansen was just a fast-maturing 2-year-old whose competitors had closed the gap. As a result, Hansen's odds floated up to 26-to-1 in Pool 1.

However, Hansen showed there may be even more in the tank with his win in the Gotham. That makes the 26-to-1 you could have received on Hansen in Pool 1 look awfully juicy. Trainer Michael Maker said Hansen will return to New York to run in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial Stakes for his final Kentucky Derby prep.

Here is the complete field for Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager with final odds:
1. Alpha, 18-to-1
2. Battle Hardened, 60-to-1
3. Bodemeister, 29-to-1
4. Castaway, 45-to-1
5. Creative Cause, 17-to-1
6. Dullahan, 26-to-1
7. El Padrino, 12-to-1
8. Empire Way, 36-to-1
9. Fed Biz, 22-to-1
10. Gemologist, 23-to-1
11. Hansen, 9-to-1
12. I'll Have Another, 22-to-1
13. Liaison, 39-to-1
14. Mark Valeski, 38-to-1
15. Midnight Transfer, 73-to-1
16. News Pending, 45-to-1
17. Out of Bounds, 23-to-1
18. Rousing Sermon, 68-to-1
19. Sabercat, 30-to-1
20. Scatman, 97-to-1
21. Secret Circle, 37-to-1
22. Take Charge Indy, 38-to-1
23. Union Rags, 4-to-1
24. Mutuel Field, 3-to-1