Horse Betting World

Five From Derby Future Wager Go in Risen Star

By Mike Dempsey

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The Kentucky Derby Trail heats up in a big way this weekend, with three preps on the menu along with Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager underway.

On Saturday, a field of ten three-year-olds go in the $300,000 Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds. The race is a key prep for the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G1) on March 26.

The other two Derby preps are Sunday’s $150,000 San Vicente (G2) at Santa Anita, and the $250,000 Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn Park.

The Kentucky Derby Future Wager gives horseplayers a shot of getting part of your betting bankroll down early on your early Derby pick.

There are 23 separate betting interests and the 24th option is “all other three-year-olds,” which is likely to be the betting choice for the first pool.

With just 24 betting options, horseplayers may want to shop around looking for a better price before making your horse future wagers.

Some of the online Racebooks are offering more options, and until Churchill Downs starts offering future wagering on each and every horse nominated to the Triple Crown, it will be tough to find value in their pool.

Five of the 23 from Pool 1 go in the Risen Star, and here is a quick look at each contender:

Rogue Romance (30/1 on Futures ML) is making his first start since running third at 9/1 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) last fall at Churchill Downs. The colt ran behind the top Derby prospect Uncle Mo, and Boys At Toscanova, who recently was taken off the Derby Trail. The Ken McPeek trainee was making his first start on conventional dirt in that race, his first three efforts coming on turf. The colt won the Bourbon (G2) two back in a good looking effort at Keeneland. The colt has an appealing pedigree, by Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones out of the Afleet mare Lovington who has dropped five other winners including stakes winner Savorthetime ($605,358).The barn can win off the bench, hitting at an 18% clip with horses coming back off a 61-180 day layoff.

Machen (30/1 on Futures ML) is one of several highly regarded three-year-olds in the Neil Howard barn. The colt ran huge in his debut at Fair Grounds going six furlongs for a barn that usually does not have them fully cranked first time out. The runner up and third place finisher both came out of the race to win next out. The colt then stretched out to a route last out and won despite getting off a tardily and spotting the field a couple of lengths. The colt was very rank heading into the first turn, not settling into stride until midway down the backstretch. He drew away to win by five lengths as the heavy betting favorite. This colt should be more settled here and still appears to have a ton of upside potential. He is by Distorted Humor out of the multiple stakes winner Ready’s Gal ($609,959), her first foal to race.

Decisive Moment (50/1 on Futures ML) took the field gate to wire to win the Jean Laffitt last out at Delta Downs in his three-year-old debut. The runner up Su Casa G Casa came back to win the Louisiana bred Premier Prince on Feb. 5 while fourth place finisher Trubs returned to win the Black Gold Stakes at Fair Grounds on Feb. 5. Two back in the Delta Jackpot (G3) the colt ran second to Gourmet Dinner, who came back to finish fourth in the CashCall Futurity (G1) and third in the Holy Bull (G3). With the low profile barn and jockey this colt might get overlooked in the betting.

Santiva (30/1 on Futures ML) is making his first start since winning the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs last November. The colt has been prepping at Palm Meadows for his three year old debut for Eddie Kenneally. This guy has a nice pedigree and still has plenty of upside, having made just one start going long on dirt.

Mucho Macho Man (30/1 on Futures ML) was a disappointing fourth in the Holy Bull (G3) last out at Gulfstream Park. He battled for the early lead and weakened to finish 4 ½ lengths behind the winner. He was a solid second behind the highly regarded To Honor and Serve, who is co-second choice in this weekend’s Future pool.