Scully, Hanson offer selections for KDFW Pool 4

Pool 4 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW) will open its three-day run Friday at noon (ET), providing the opportunity to wager on 39 individual interests and the pari-mutuel field of "All Other Three-Year-Olds" for the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 3.

TwinSpires analysts James Scully and Vance Hanson offer their picks below, as well as a joint horse to watch for.

James Scully: #27 Rapture (50-1) opened his racing career with a good second over a one-turn mile at Gulfstream in mid-December and stretched to two turns at Oaklawn Park six weeks later, romping by 6 1/2 lengths. Rapture's Brisnet Speed rating (88) came back light due to the tepid early pace, but the Uncle Mo colt finished up smartly and Rapture looks poised to keep advancing for Brad Cox.

Vance Hanson: Seventeen years after saddling Big Brown to win the Derby off only four career starts (an unusual feat in those days), trainer Rick Dutrow is back on the Derby trail with #4 Captain Cook (20-1). Although the colt's immediate family would suggest he's more likely to best at or around a mile (he's by Practical Joke and out of a mare sired by Indian Charlie), Captain Cook successfully stretched out to 1 1/8 miles to win the Withers S. at Aqueduct and didn't appear to be struggling to do so. And with the right trip, perhaps he could get an extra furlong at Churchill Downs as well. Possible takers will have to demand a price, though, as Captain Cook will be taking a path of lesser resistance on his way to Louisville by running next in the Wood Memorial (G2) in early April.

A horse to watch: Godolphin has more than just East Avenue going for them. #12 First Resort (40-1) is not without merit, especially after showing an affinity for the Churchill Downs strip in November when taking the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) in wire-to-wire fashion. Although he missed training time this winter due to extreme weather in Kentucky, the son of Uncle Mo is expected to make his season debut in the Feb. 22 John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park. Although a synthetic surface, Turfway's road to the Derby was successfully used by the likes of Animal Kingdom (2011) and Rich Strike (2022).