Unbeaten Champion Indian Blessing Favored in First Pool of 2008 Kentucky Oaks Future Wager

Hal and Patti Earnhardt’s unbeaten Indian Blessing, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2007, saw a sparkling victory in Saturday’s Silverbulletday Stakes (Grade III) at Fair Grounds propel her into the role of favorite in the opening pool of Churchill Downs’ 2008 Kentucky Oaks Future Wager, which wrapped up its four-day run on Sunday.

The Bob Baffert-trained daughter of Indian Charlie was the 4-1 people’s choice in a field of 22 wagering interests in Pool I of the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager, the first of three pools in the wager that is now in its sixth year. Indian Blessing held off Proud Spell to win the Silverbulletday in a repeat of their 1-2 finish in last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) and strengthened her status as the favorite to win the 134th running of the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks (GI) at Churchill Downs on May 2. Stonerside Stable’s Country Star, winner of Keeneland’s Darley Alcibiades (GI) and the Hollywood Starlet (GI) for Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel, was the pool’s second choice at 9-2. The mutuel field, which includes all 3-year-old fillies other than the 21 individual fillies in the pool, finished as the third choice at 5-1.

Proud Spell closed at 8-1 after her strong runner-up effort in the Silverbulletday, which was her first start since the Breeders’ Cup. Unbeaten Pure Clan, winner of the Golden Rod (GII) at Churchill Downs, closed as a 10-1 risk. Golden Doc A, winner of the Las Virgenes (GI) at Santa Anita on Saturday, stood at odds of 32-1 at the conclusion of Sunday’s betting, while Bsharpsonata, winner of Saturday’s Forward Gal (GII) at Gulfstream Park, was a 30-1 shot.Wagering on By the Light (#5) and Sea Chanter (#20) was suspended prior to the start of wagering in the pool when it was determined that neither would compete in the Kentucky Oaks.

A total of $65,219 was wagered during the four-day pool, which opened at noon (all times EST) on Thursday and closed on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. Pool 2 of the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager is set for March 6-9, while the year’s final pool is scheduled for April 3-6.

The Kentucky Oaks Future Wager is a minimum $2 wager and a win bet only. It offers fans the opportunity to bet on Oaks contenders at odds that could be greater than those they would receive on the day of the race. There are no refunds in the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager.

Churchill Downs, the world’s most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, continuously since 1875. Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN) also operates Trackside at Churchill Downs, which offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track.

Churchill Downs will conduct the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 3, 2008. The track’s 2008 Spring Meet begins on April 26. Churchill Downs has hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships a record six times. Information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at www.churchilldowns.com.