Fierceness holds steady at 8-1; 'All Others' 2-1 in KDFW Pool 3

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Fierceness retained his position as the individual favorite for the 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1), again closing as an 8-1 chance upon the conclusion of Pool 3 of the Future Wager on Sunday evening. 

As usual at this stage, the mutuel field of “All Other Three-Year-Olds” was the most popular option overall at 2-1. But support wasn’t as overwhelming as in the first two pools of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW). The 4-5 favorite in Pool 1 prior to the Breeders’ Cup, the field stood at 6-5 by the end of Pool 2 over Thanksgiving weekend. 

Fierceness first vaulted into individual favoritism in Pool 2 at 8-1, also his morning line for Pool 3. Sure to be named champion two-year-old male at the Eclipse Awards gala on Thursday, the Todd Pletcher trainee is pointing to the Feb. 3 Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park. 

The Chad Brown-trained Sierra Leone finished as the second choice among individual interests at 13-1. The strong runner-up in the Remsen (G2), a 36-1 shot in Pool 2, was bet down from his Pool 3 morning line of 30-1.

Next came Remsen hero Dornoch, who ended the weekend trading at 15-1. A full brother to 2023 Derby hero Mage, Dornoch attracted consistent support at 19-1 in Pools 1 and 2.

Locked, third to stablemate Fierceness in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, inched upward to 18-1. The 14-1 individual favorite in Pool 1, the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) winner remained at 14-1 when ranking as the second choice in Pool 2. 

Matching that 18-1 price were two newcomers to Pool 3, Conquest Warrior and Track Phantom, whose odds tumbled from their respective morning lines. Conquest Warrior (originally 40-1) turned heads by overcoming repeated trouble to break his maiden at Gulfstream, and Track Phantom (opening at 60-1) advertised himself with a front-running victory in Saturday’s Lecomte (G3).  

Others gaining traction were Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) victor Honor Marie (into 25-1 from 30-1), Churchill Downs debut romper Knightsbridge (into 26-1 from 50-1), and Smarty Jones S. scorer Catching Freedom (into 28-1 from 40-1).

Drum Roll Please was removed from the wagering Friday, when news came that he was sidelined by injury. 

Here are the final odds from Pool 3:

Churchill Downs reported that a total of $334,472 was wagered during Pool 3 ($254,977 in the win pool and $79,495 in exactas). That figure was up 7% from last year’s corresponding pool, which handled $312,906 ($244,700 in the win pool and $68,207 in exactas).

Complete details, including exacta will-pays, will be available on the Future Wager page on KentuckyDerby.com. 

Three opportunities remain to bet in the 2024 Kentucky Derby Future Wager. Pool 4 is scheduled for Feb. 16-18, Pool 5 runs alongside the lone Kentucky Oaks Future Wager March 15-17, and the final Pool 6 will be held April 4-6, one month before the May 4 Derby.