Scully, Hanson find price plays in Pool 1 of 2022 Kentucky Derby Future Wager

With Pool 1 of the 2022 Kentucky Derby Future Wager now open, 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've also scanned the remaining options and have each picked out a candidate they're interested in backing in the pool this weekend.

Consensus Pick: Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1

#5 EPICENTER (30-1) is an intriguing longshot for Steve Asmussen, who figures to break through with his first Kentucky Derby (G1) winner eventually. The Not This Time colt has shown speed in both starts, graduating in a convincing manner over a one-turn mile at Churchill Downs the second time out, and he registered an outstanding 95 Brisnet Speed rating. Bred to relish longer distances, Epicenter looks capable of developing into a serious three-year-old for his Hall of Fame trainer.

James Scully's bonus free pick

#7 GIANT GAME (15-1) has something going for him. A convincing maiden winner when stretching out to two turns in his second start, the Giant's Causeway colt offered a bold move on the far turn of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) in his subsequent outing. He couldn't sustain his momentum into the stretch, checking in third behind more seasoned rivals, but Giant Game should benefit greatly from the experience.

Vance Hanson's bonus free pick

There's not a great deal to love, in my opinion, about most of the individual entries at this point. Some of the leading juveniles are relegated to the mutuel field, which is likely to be a huge odds-on choice, while individual favorite Jack Christopher possesses a pedigree that makes him potentially suspect going the Derby distance. This might be the chance to take a small flyer on something like #23 THE ALL OTHER 3YO FILLIES (50-1) option. Why this? It goes back to the fact that one of the best juveniles out there is the presumptive filly champion Echo Zulu, whose best effort this season would've won virtually every race for males except, perhaps, the Champagne (G1). Now, no filly has won a Derby prep or competed in the Derby itself since the points system was inaugurated several years back. However, anything is possible. All it would take is for this male crop to remain historically soft for an enterprising group of connections to take a shot at exploiting the situation. Fillies have won three classics in the past 15 years, and I'd never put it past the Derby dry spell for fillies, which dates to 1988, to end at some unforeseen point.