Churchill Downs’ 2012 Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1

The first of three pools for Churchill Downs’ 2012 Kentucky Derby Future Wager opened Friday at noon. Pool #1 will close at 6 PM on Sunday. As in years past, the “All Others” choice is the heavy favorite to open the wager.

Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia installed “All Others” as the 9-5 morning-line choice for Pool 1, but the favored individual horse among the 24 wagering interests is an exciting newcomer.

Starlight Racing’s unbeaten Algorithms is a 8-1 choice. 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.”

Not far behind Algorithms is Chadds Ford Stable’s once-beaten Union Rags (10-1), winner of the Grade I Champagne, and Kendall Hansen and Sky Chai Racing’s Hansen (12-1).

The Future Wager offers an opportunity to bet on 2012 Kentucky Derby candidates well in advance of the 2012 Kentucky Derby on May 5. Bettors will receive the odds that are in place at the conclusion of wagering in each pool, and those odds could be significantly higher than those available on the actual 2012 Kentucky Derby Day.

The remaining 2012 Kentucky Derby pools are scheduled for March 2-4 and March 30-April 1. All Future Wager pools feature both win and exacta wagering.

All bets are $2 minimum, and there are no refunds. If it is determined during any pool that an individual betting interest has suffered an illness, injury or other circumstance that would prevent that horse from running in the 2012 Kentucky Derby, wagering on that horse will be suspended immediately.

With his Kentucky Derby Tours connections, Algorithms is one of four Pool 1 horses trained by Todd Pletcher. The others are Discreet Dancer (15-1), Gemologist (20-1) and El Padrino (20-1).