Scully, Hanson find common ground in Pool 1 of Kentucky Derby Future Wager

With Pool 1 of the 2020 Kentucky Derby Future Wager opening Thursday, Brisnet.com editors James Scully and Vance Hanson have put their heads together and reached a consensus on an individual entry they both like. They also scanned the remaining options and have each picked out a candidate they're excited about backing in the pool this week.

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CONSENSUS PICK: Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1

#13 Independence Hall (12-1) is trained by Michael Trombetta, who conditioned beaten 2006 Derby favorite Sweetnorthernsaint but is otherwise an infrequent participant on the Derby trail. That in part should help the price on this colt, who earned a relatively strong 101 BRIS Speed rating winning the Nashua (G3) at Aqueduct last time.

Not only does he have talent, but the bloodlines to boot. Independence Hall has three siblings who have won at 1 1/8 miles or longer, and another two who have won at 1 1/16 miles. There's also an outstanding mix of speed (Breeders' Cup Sprint [G1] winner Desert Stormer is a full sister to his second dam) and stamina (Storm Cat and Damascus) in this pedigree.

Despite being co-favored on the morning line among individual entries, there's a chance Independence Hall will not be among the top two individual choices by the time betting closes early Sunday evening, which potentially adds to his appeal.

James Scully's bonus free pick

#2 Anneau d'Or (20-1) broke his maiden spectacularly on turf the first time out and carried his form to dirt in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), rallying from just off the pace to be a head second. By Medaglia d'Oro and out of a Tapit mare, he's bred to relish longer distances and offers appeal at expected long odds.

Vance Hanson's bonus free pick

There's an element of risk involved with any future wager and there certainly is now with #14 Maxfield (15-1), who recently underwent surgery to remove an ankle chip. That will sideline him into early 2020, but connections seem optimistic the impressive Breeders' Futurity (G1) winner will have a chance to make the Kentucky Derby. That news should also keep his price higher than what it otherwise would have been.

By Derby winner Street Sense, he's already won over the Churchill strip and avoided any exposure to his reputation when a midweek scratch from the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Few of his peers have proven as exciting to this point.

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