2012 Kentucky Derby Future Pool 1 closes with field as the favorite. The field was bet as the favorite in Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which closed Sunday at 6 PM. Pool 1 set a record for highest handle since Churchill Downs first began offering futures betting in 1999.  The total handle was $631,304, with $494,263 in the win pool and $137,041 in the exacta pool.  The betting is win or exactas only

The “mutuel” field was #24 with # 1 to 23 all in specific Kentucky Derby horses names. Union Rags is the distant second choice at 7 to 1, followed by Algorithms 12to 1, El Padrino 16 to 1, Creative Cause  17 to 1, and Alpha 19 to 1.

Third choice Algorithms has a Kentucky Derby Tours connection.  The Todd Pletcher-trained colt burst into the 2012 Kentucky Derby picture with an emphatic five-length victory over previously unbeaten 2-year-old champion Hansen in the Holy Bull Stakes on Jan. 29 at Gulfstream Park. We discussed Kentucky Derby Tours history with the breeders of Algorithms in our Blog post at https://kentuckyderbytours.com/blog/page/2/  on January 29.  “In the winners circle after the race, Algorithms owners Starlight Partners thanked Kentucky Derby Tours alumni, Pat Klussman of Oakbrook Farm for breeding this horse. Pat and her late husband, Bill Klussman joined our Kentucky Derby Tours for many years. Not a stranger to having bred a Kentucky Derby starter, Pat Klussman and Oakbrook Farm also bred Keyed Entry who set the pace when he ran in the 2006 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs which was won by Barbaro.  Looks like we may see the Pat Klussman looking for 2012 Kentucky Derby tickets. Algorithms is certainly shaping up to be a horse to watch for the 2012 Kentucky Derby.”

The record handle for any futures pool had been Pool 1 in 2005 with $620,362 bet.  2005 was the same year  that the record of $1,665,990 for the highest three-pool total  handle was established. The 2011 Kentucky Derby Future Pool 1 drew a combined handle of $592,492, which had ranked as the second-highest for a single pool until the top two marks were surpassed this weekend.  Churchill Downs officials were thrilled and expecting to see a record demand for 2012 Kentucky Derby tickets.

“We’re excited and a little surprised by the record Derby Future betting in Pool 1,” said company spokesman John Asher. “But it’s gratifying to see such a strong outbreak of Derby fever with about 80 days remaining until the big day. We felt some additional buzz heading into the pool in terms of media coverage and conversations and activity on social media. TwinSpires.com was also very active in marketing and promotion of the future bet, and we’re anxious to see wagering numbers from our online partners in the pool and assess the impact of that wagering segment on overall results.”

The lowest $2 exacta bet will pay $59.00 for a Pool 1 exacta with the combination of Union Rags over the field (#23 and # 24).

Pool 2 will be March 2 to 4, and Pool 3 will be on March 30 to April 1. There is only one Kentucky Oaks future pool and  it will be with the 2012 Kentucky Derby Pool 2 on March 2 to 4.

We had many Kentucky Derby Tours participants calling and email8ing us before the Pool closed to ask who would be a good bet!

2012   Kentucky Derby Future Wager, Pool 1

#	Horse	Final
1.	Algorithms	12-1
2.	Alpha	19-1
3.	Battle Hardened	46-1
4.	Creative Cause	17-1
5.	Discreet Dancer	30-1
6.	Dullahan	40-1
7.	El Padrino	16-1
8.	Empire Way	33-1
9.	Ever So Lucky	55-1
10.	Fed Biz	21-1
11.	Gemologist	22-1
12.	Hansen	26-1
13.	I’ll Have Another	29-1
14.	Junebugred	58-1
15.	Liaison	56-1
16.	Longview Drive	141-1
17.	Midnight Transfer	67-1
18.	Mr. Bowling	85-1
19.	Out of Bounds	23-1
20.	Rousing Sermon	71-1
21.	Sabercat	34-1
22.	Take Charge Indy	42-1
23.	Union Rags	7-1
24.	Mutuel field (all others)	3-2