Forte listed at 4-1 for KDFW Pool 5; Wonder Wheel 8-1 favorite in lone Oaks Future

Following an impressive comeback win in Saturday’s Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park, Forte has been installed as the 4-1 morning line favorite in Pool 5 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which is set for its three-day span Friday-Sunday.

Pool 5 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager will run concurrently with the lone pool of the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager. In addition to $2 Win and Exacta betting, an Oaks/Derby Future Double is part of the wagering menu. The wagers will open Friday at noon (all times Eastern), and the Kentucky Derby Future Wager will close Sunday at 6 p.m. The Oaks Future Wager will close at 6:30 p.m.

Through the first four pools of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, Forte was tabbed as the individual favorite three times — Pool 2 (10-1); Pool 3 (7-1), and Pool 4 (8-1). In the first pool, Forte closed as the second individual choice at 16-1 behind Extra Anejo (12-1).

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Forte recorded his fourth consecutive graded win in the Fountain of Youth. The son of Violence concluded his two-year-old season with wins in the Hopeful (G1), Breeders’ Futurity (G1), and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), and the dark bay colt was named champion juvenile male.

San Felipe (G2) winner Practical Move is listed as the 8-1 second individual choice, and Southwest (G3) victor Arabian Knight is 10-1.

Overall, there are 18 new entrants in Pool 5 from Pool 4: Arabian Knight, Arabian Lion, Cagliostro, Cairo, Classic Car Wash, Classic Catch, Congruent, Denington, Hejazi, Major Dude, Mandarin Hero, National Treasure, Perriere, Raise Cain, Reincarnate, Skinner, Sun Thunder, and Two Eagles River.

Following this pool, there will be one additional opportunity to wager early on 2023 Kentucky Derby contenders. Pool 6 will span March 30-April 1.

The $3 million Kentucky Derby is set for Saturday, May 6 and the $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) will precede it on Friday, May 5.

There are no refunds in the Kentucky Derby or Oaks Future Wagers. Should Churchill Downs officials determine during the duration of this week’s three-day pool that one of the wagering interests has experienced an injury, illness, or other circumstance that would prevent the horse from participating in the Kentucky Derby or Oaks, betting on the individual horse will be suspended immediately.

Wagering on both pools will be available at TwinSpires.com, and Brisnet.com past performances and real-time odds will be available before the pools open Friday online at https://www.kentuckyderby.com/wager/future-wager.

Here is the Pool 5 field.

1. Angel of Empire	30-1
2. Arabian Knight	10-1
3. Arabian Lion	50-1
4. Blazing Sevens	40-1
5. Cagliostro	99-1
6. Cairo	50-1
7. Classic Car Wash	99-1
8. Classic Catch	50-1
9. Confidence Game	30-1
10. Congruent	80-1
11. Cyclone Mischief	40-1
12. Denington	80-1
13. Disarm	99-1
14. Forte	4-1
15. Geaux Rocket Ride	20-1
16. General Jim	80-1
17. Hejazi	40-1
18. Hit Show	30-1
19. Instant Coffee	30-1
20. Kingsbarns	50-1
21. Litigate	50-1
22. Mage	80-1
23. Major Dude	50-1
24. Mandarin Hero	50-1
25. National Treasure	30-1
26. Perriere	50-1
27. Practical Move	8-1
28. Raise Cain	50-1
29. Red Route One	40-1
30. Reincarnate	30-1
31. Rocket Can	40-1
32. Skinner	40-1
33. Sun Thunder	99-1
34. Tapit Trice	15-1
35. Tapit’s Conquest	80-1
36. Two Eagles River	80-1
37. Two Phil’s	80-1
38. Verifying	50-1
39. Victory Formation	80-1
40. All Other 3-Year-Old Colts and Geldings	5-1

 

In the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager, champion juvenile filly Wonder Wheel was tabbed the 8-1 morning line favorite among 39 individual betting interests. The three-year-old filly exits a neck second to fellow Kentucky Oaks Future Wager contender Dreaming of Snow in her seasonal bow, the Feb. 11 Suncoast S. at Tampa Bay Downs.

Along with Wonder Wheel, other top fillies that were incorporated in the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager include Rachel Alexandra (G2) winner Pretty Mischievous; Honeybee (G3) winner Wet Paint; multiple stakes scorer Hoosier Philly; and Demoiselle (G2) winner Julia Shining.

Here is the field for the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager.

1. Affirmative Lady	99-1
2. Ami Please	99-1
3. And Tell Me Nolies	40-1
4. Asset Purchase	30-1
5. Atomically	50-1
6. Blessed Touch	50-1
7. Botanical	20-1
8. Capella	40-1
9. Chop Chop	40-1
10. Clearly Unhinged	40-1
11. Condensation	40-1
12. Dorth Vader	20-1
13. Dreaming of Snow	30-1
14. Flashy Gem	40-1
15. Flying Connection	50-1
16. Gaming Girl	50-1
17. Grand Love	50-1
18. Guns n’ Graces	40-1
19. Homecoming Queen	99-1
20. Hoosier Philly	15-1
21. Interpolate	30-1
22. Julia Shining	12-1
23. Justique	40-1
24. Merlazza	99-1
25. Mimi Kakushi	80-1
26. Miracle	20-1
27. Munnys Gold	30-1
28. Occult	20-1
29. Pretty Mischievous	10-1
30. Punchbowl	20-1
31. Red Carpet Ready	15-1
32. Royal Spa	50-1
33. Seduction	50-1
34. She’s Lookin Lucky	30-1
35. Shidabhuti	15-1
36. Southlawn	20-1
37. The Alys Look	15-1
38. Wet Paint	12-1
39. Wonder Wheel	8-1
40. All Other 3-Year-Old Fillies	15-1