2010 Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Champion Uncle Mo has been the presumptive Kentucky Derby favorite since then, and has been atop the Wynn Sportsbook futures market. At the end of pool 2 wagering in the official Kentucky Derby Futures Wager at Churchill Downs, he’s now the betting favorite there as well.
Uncle Mo didn’t face a particularly inspiring field of opponents in the $100,000 Timely Writer at Gulfstream, but he blew away the five competitors en route to a 3 3/4 length victory over Rattlesnake Bridge. Uncle Mo broke a step slow out of the gate but quickly recovered and with jockey John Valazquez aboard proceeded to blow past his competitors. The Kentucky Derby favorite set slow fractional times of 25.53 seconds, 49.58 and 1:13.69 but in a race devoid of early speed Uncle Mo set the pace. He looked strong in the stretch as he galloped away from the field for the easy win.
Trainer Todd Pletcher’s post race comments were appropriate for an outing that was more of a ‘day at the office’ than a serious competitive challenge:
“He was the Derby favorite going in and he’s the Derby favorite coming out!”
Uncle Mo paid $2.10 across the board to win, place and show. Rattlesnake Bridge–easily the second best horse on the track–paid $2.20 to place and show while Gallant Bridge finished third paying $3.00.
Trainer Pletcher’s words were prophetic–Uncle Mo ended the second day of betting as a 4-1 favorite and was bet down even more on Sunday to a 3-1 choice at the end of pool #2 betting. The ‘mutual field’ or ‘all others’ remains a very strong betting interest and was the second choice behind Uncle Mo at the end of pool #2 wagering with odds of 7-2. The ‘field’ represents a wager on every horse other than the 23 individual betting interests on the Churchill Downs board and includes–among countless others–San Felipe winner Premier Pegasus and the upset victor in the Tampa Bay Derby, Watch Me Go who won that race as a 41-1 longshot.
Other horses in the Kentucky Derby Futures field as separate betting interests are Dialed In at 10-1, Jaycito–who finished second in the San Felipe at Santa Anita on Saturday– at 11-1, To Honor and Serveat 12-1, Fountain of Youth winner Soldat at 14-1 and Runflatout and Sway Away both at 16-1. The third and final Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool of 2011 is set for April 1-3.