Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Essential Quality closed at 8-1 in Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager. (Photo credit: John Voorhees/Eclipse Sportswire/Breeders Cup/CSM).
Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager closed on Sunday evening with a pool of $191,984 and the Bob Baffert trained Life is Good closed as the shortest price among the 22 separate betting interests.
“All other three-year-olds” closed as the 6-5 favorite and horseplayers will get a $4.60 payoff for each $2 wagered if the 2021 Kentucky Derby is not among the other 22 in Pool 1.
All other “three-year-old fillies” closed at 56-1.
Life is Good took plenty of action, closing at 5-1 and will return $12.80 if the colt can give Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert his record breaking seventh victory in the Run for the Roses.
The $525,000 Keeneland purchase is a son of Into Mischief and made his debut over the main track at Del Mar on Nov. 22. Sent off as the short, priced favorite the colt trounced the field by 9 ½ lengths. He earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure.
For the latest Kentucky Derby odds check out BUSR.
Life is Good Maiden Win
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) champion Essential Quality closed at 8-1. The Brad Cox trainee is undefeated in three career starts. He won the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland in his stakes debut.
In the Juvenile the son of Tapit made a good late rally in the 14-horse field to get up and draw clear late to win by 1 ¾ lengths. The colt earned a 95 Beyer Speed Figure.
The third choice in Pool 1 was Jackie’s Warrior at 18-1. The Steve Asmussen trainee was the beaten favorite in the Juvenile, checking in fourth. A Derby win would bring his backers $38.20 for a $2 bet.
The fourth choice was Highly Motivated, also at 18-1 and he will return $39.80 for a Derby win. The Chad Brown trainee won the Nyquist over the Keeneland main track on Nov. 6 in his stakes debut.
At 19-1 is Keepmeinmind who won the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) on Saturday at Churchill Downs. Trained by Robertino Diodoro, the colt broke his maiden in that win. He previously was third in the Juvenile and second in the Breeders’ Futurity.
The race was worth 10 points as a Road to the Kentucky Derby points race.
The other Future Wager dates are scheduled for Jan. 22-24 (Pool 2), Feb. 12-14 (Pool 3), March 5-7 (Pool 4) and March 26-28 (Pool 5). The lone Kentucky Oaks Future Wager will coincide with Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 4 on March 5-7.
Pool 1 Kentucky Derby Future Odds
| Program | Horse Name | Odds | Gross Win Pool | $2 Payoff |
| 1 | Caddo River | 27-1 | $5,518.00 | $57.40 |
| 2 | Dr. Schivel | 72-1 | $2,155.00 | $146.80 |
| 3 | Essential Quality | 8-1 | $17,214.00 | $18.40 |
| 4 | Fire At Will | 30-1 | $5,041.00 | $62.80 |
| 5 | Get Her Number | 64-1 | $2,426.00 | $130.40 |
| 6 | Highly Motivated | 18-1 | $7,941.00 | $39.80 |
| 7 | Hot Rod Charlie | 34-1 | $4,435.00 | $71.40 |
| 8 | Jackie’s Warrior | 18-1 | $8,272.00 | $38.20 |
| 9 | Keepmeinmind | 19-1 | $7,897.00 | $40.00 |
| 10 | King Fury | 60-1 | $2,587.00 | $122.40 |
| 11 | Life Is Good | 5-1 | $24,663.00 | $12.80 |
| 12 | Midnight Bourbon | 59-1 | $2,629.00 | $120.40 |
| 13 | Pickin’ Time | 96-1 | $1,627.00 | $194.60 |
| 14 | Red Flag | 35-1 | $4,397.00 | $72.00 |
| 15 | Reinvestment Risk | 35-1 | $4,354.00 | $72.60 |
| 16 | Rombauer | 88-1 | $1,771.00 | $178.80 |
| 17 | Savile Row | 36-1 | $4,175.00 | $75.80 |
| 18 | Scarred | 49-1 | $3,151.00 | $100.40 |
| 19 | Sittin On Go | 68-1 | $2,275.00 | $139.20 |
| 20 | Speaker’s Corner | 29-1 | $5,193.00 | $61.00 |
| 21 | Super Stock | 99-1 | $1,510.00 | $209.60 |
| 22 | Ten for Ten | 51-1 | $2,991.00 | $105.80 |
| 23 | All Other 3 Year Old Fillies | 56-1 | $2,766.00 | $114.40 |
| 24 | All Other Three Year Olds | 6-5 | $66,996.00 | $4.60 |
