Spielberg ran like he’s been on the Kentucky Derby Futures boards before. Señor Buscadore ran like he wants to be there. And just like that, he became one of 12 new horses appearing on either the Circa Sports or William Hill Nevada Derby Futures boards.
Señor Buscadore earned his 35/1 debut at Circa and 100/1 debut at William Hill after rallying from 12 lengths back to win the Springboard Mile at Remington Park by nearly six lengths. The closer must content himself with the 93 Beyer Speed Figure he earned because he can’t claim the 10 Derby points from the victory. That’s because Señor Buscadore was on Lasix, a no-no now for any points-hungry Derby Trail horses.
2021 Kentucky Derby Futures: Top Contenders
| Circa Sports | William Hill Nevada | |
| Life Is Good | 10/1 | 10/1 |
| Essential Quality | 15/1 | 8/1 |
| Prime Factor | 25/1 | 25/1 |
| Senor Buscadore | 35/1 | 100/1 |
| Highly Motivated | 40/1 | 40/1 |
| Keepmeinmind | 40/1 | 50/1 |
| Arabian Prince | 40/1 | — |
| Savile Row | 42/1 | 50/1 |
| Prate | 45/1 | 70/1 |
| Caddo River | 50/1 | 40/1 |
| Jackie’s Warrior | 50/1 | 40/1 |
| Hot Rod Charlie | 55/1 | 50/1 |
| Mandaloun | 55/1 | 50/1 |
| Red Flag | 60/1 | 40/1 |
| Olympiad | 60/1 | 50/1 |
| Rombauer | 70/1 | 100/1 |
| Smiley Sobotka | 70/1 | 75/1 |
| Spielberg | 70/1 | 35/1 |
| Medina Spirit | 70/1 | 100/1 |
| Never Surprised | 70/1 | — |
Speaking of Lasix and the Springboard Mile, runner-up Cowan gets his four points from the race because he was the only one of the top four finishers not on the anti-bleeding medication. Cowan’s third consecutive second after breaking his maiden in his debut put him onto Circa’s board at 75/1.
As for Spielberg, he finally showed why he was a $1 million purchase, taking the Los Alamitos Futurity by a nose over 33/1 long shot, The Great One. That win gave Spielberg his first graded stakes victory and trainer Bob Baffert his seventh consecutive Futurity, and 13th overall. Meanwhile, it also carved Spielberg’s William Hill odds from 75/1 to 35/1. He’s holding serve at 70/1 at Circa.
Outadore Out of Favor
The favorite from that race, Outadore, didn’t fare nearly as well. The 7/5 Springboard Mile favorite, Outadore wilted badly in the stretch, finishing fifth in his dirt debut. Should you think Outadore’s dirt debut was a burp in the horseracing universe, Circa offers you 150/1 debut odds on this Wesley Ward trainee.
The last Springboard Mile alum making his futures board debut is Joe Frazier, who summoned memories of the late Howard Cosell’s legendary “Down Goes Frazier!†call. After winning his debut and finishing third in his next outing, Joe Frazier hit the deck with a poor sixth-place finish while hitting Circa’s board at 225/1.
The splashiest board debut didn’t come from any of the aforementioned. It came from Prate, who parlayed a 4-¼-length romp in his six-furlong debut at Fair Grounds into top-tier Derby futures status. The Brad Cox-trained Into Mischief progeny clocked a 90 Beyer with a time better than two stakes winners at the same distance later that day. This opened Prate at 45/1 at Circa and 75/1 at William Hill.
Essential Quality, Life Is Good Stay in Bettor’s Good Stead
Your two favorites remain your two favorites. Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner and odds-on favorite to win Champion 2-Year-Old, Essential Quality holds William Hill’s top spot at 8/1. Life Is Good, Baffert’s current top Derby hopeful, is Circa’s top choice at 10/1.