In case you’re curious, the first Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool opens this weekend with “All Other Colts and Geldings from the 2019 Foal Crop†as the even-money favorite. It also opens with the current Las Vegas futures favorite, Corniche, literally missing from action.
Currently 6/1 at Caesars at William Hill to win the 2022 Derby, the Bob Baffert-trained Corniche — the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner — was left off the list of 22 individual betting interests for the pool that opens on Thanksgiving Day. Baffert’s other 2-year-old prospects, Bob Hope Stakes winner Messier, Del Mar Futurity winner Pinehurst, and Rockefeller were also left out of the pool. Messier is currently Caesars at William Hill’s second choice at 16/1.
That’s courtesy of Churchill Downs suspending Baffert from fielding horses in the 2022 and 2023 Derbies. The Louisville track operates the KDFW.
That leaves individual favorite status to Champagne Stakes winner Jack Christopher, who enters as the 10/1 second choice. The 9/5 morning-line favorite to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, before being scratched with a stress fracture in his left shin, Jack Christopher had a screw inserted in his shin. He’s expected back in training in early 2022, where you will likely find him on the Florida Derby prep swing.
Kentucky Derby Future Wager even makes room for fillies
Caesars at William Hill lists Jack Christopher at 20/1.
Churchill Downs line author Mike Battaglia wrote the odds for the pool, which opens Thursday at noon ET and closes Sunday at 6 p.m. ET.
The 22 individual entries run the odds spectrum from Jack Christopher’s 10/1 to the 50/1 odds hung on Graphic Detail, Smile Happy, Trafalgar, Varatti, and All Fillies from the 2019 Foal Crop.
Bettors can make $2 win and exacta bets on the horses or combos in the listed field. Horseplayers can wager at Churchill Downs, online, and at satellite wagering centers across North America.
2022 Kentucky Derby Future Wager-Pool 1
| Trainer | Odds | |
| Ben Diesel | Dallas Stewart | 30/1 |
| Classic Causeway | Brian Lynch | 15/1 |
| Commandperformance | Todd Pletcher | 15/1 |
| Double Thunder | Todd Pletcher | 30/1 |
| Epicenter | Steve Asmussen | 30/1 |
| Forced Ranking | Chad Brown | 30/1 |
| Giant Game | Dale Romans | 15/1 |
| Graphic Detail | Bill Mott | 50/1 |
| Gunite | Steve Asmussen | 20/1 |
| Howling Time | Dale Romans | 20/1 |
| Jack Christopher | Chad Brown | 10/1 |
| Major General | Todd Pletcher | 20/1 |
| Mo Donegal | Todd Pletcher | 20/1 |
| Osbourne | Ron Moquett | 30/1 |
| Oviatt Class | Keith Desormeaux | 30/1 |
| Pappacap | Mark Casse | 12/1 |
| Rattle N Roll | Kenny McPeek | 15/1 |
| Smile Happy | Kenny McPeek | 50/1 |
| Tiz the Bomb | Kenny McPeek | 20/1 |
| Trafalgar | Al Stall Jr. | 50/1 |
| Varatti | Todd Pletcher | 50/1 |
| Zandon | Chad Brown | 30/1 |
| All Other Fillies from 2019 Crop | — | 50/1 |
| All Other Colts/Geldings from 2019 Crop | — | 1/1 |
The track doesn’t allow KDFW refunds. Churchill Downs officials maintain that if one of the pool horses experiences an injury, illness or other circumstance that prevents participation in the 2022 Derby, betting on that horse will be immediately suspended.
Next year’s 148th Kentucky Derby will take place on May 7, 2022. This is the ninth year that Churchill Downs is offering its KDFW pools in the closing week of its fall meet.