Unbeaten Verrazano is a solid morning line choice to emerge as the overall betting favorite in this weekend’s third and final pool of Churchill Downs’ 2013 Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

Churchill Downs odds maker Mike Battaglia has installed Verrazano as the 7-2 favorite in his morning line odds for KDFW Pool 3. Wagering in the three-day pool is set to open at noon (all times Eastern) on Friday, March 22 and conclude at 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 24.

While Verrazano was the favored individual in the first two KDFW pools of 2013, the overall bettors’ choice in each was the mutuel field, or “All Others”, which includes all 3-year-old thoroughbreds other than the 23 individual horses listed on each pool’s betting roster.

Trailing Verrazano and “All Others” in Pool 3 odds is a third-choice trio at 10-1 that includes Itsmyluckyday, Orb, and Vyjack. Flashback is the 12-1 fourth choice, and is followed in the morning line by reigning 2-year-old champion Shanghai Bobby at 15-1. Next is a group at 20-1 headed by Will Take Charge, Oxbow, Hear the Ghost, Normandy Invasion and Uncaptured.

The Kentucky Derby Future Wager offers racing fans an opportunity to bet on potential contenders for the famed “Run for the Roses” well in advance of the race at odds that could be significantly more attractive than those available in betting on Kentucky Derby Day.

Each Kentucky Derby Future pool offers $2-minimum win betting and exacta wagering, which is available in the form of $2 minimum straight exacta bets or $1-minimum exacta boxes and part-wheels. No scratches or betting refunds are permitted in the Derby Future Wager, but betting on an individual horse will be suspended immediately if Churchill Downs determines that an injury, illness or other circumstance revealed during the pool would prevent that horse from competing in the Kentucky Derby.

Fans wagered a total of $1,028,532 in win and exacta bets during Feb. 8-10 and March 1-3 KDFW pools.

Pool 3 features six horses that were not wagering interests in this year’s second pool. The newcomers are Hear the Ghost, Java’s War, Mr Palmer, Noble Tune, War Academy and Will Take Charge. Edited press release.